Excelsior Community College Student Hand Book

Excelsior Community College Student Handbook 2021-2023, v.11, June 2021

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

P A G E

Principal’s Message v

Vice Principal’s Message (Student Affairs) vi

Vice Principal’s Message (Academic Affairs) vii

Registrar’s Message viii

President, Students Union Message ix

Student Services Division — Pictorials x-xiii

The Vision xiv

The Mission xiv

Statement of Beliefs xv

College Profile - Brief History of the College xvi

Highlights

Important Note

Campuses Governance and Administration xix

Decision Making and Monitoring Mechanism

The Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ)

The Academic Board

Accreditation

Officers of the College 1

Admission and Registration 2

The Admission Process

Application Procedures

Entry Requirements

Non Refundable Fee

Recommendation for Acceptance

Registration Procedures

Requirements for Registration

Obtain Academic Clearance

Obtain Financial and Medical Clearance

Criteria for Registered Student

Late Registration

Penalties for Non-Registration

On-line Registration

Cancellation of Courses

School Tuition

Financial Information 6

Fee Structure (International Students),

Fee Payment,

Payment Plan, Scholarships and Awards.

Government Assisted Schemes: JAMVAT, SLB, NYS, JCSJP, PATH

General Academic Information 11

Academic Structure

Programmes of Study

The Credit System

The Grading System

Calculation of GPA

Level of Awards

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Transfer to New Programmes Add/Drop Procedures Leave of Absence Official Withdrawal from the College Unauthorized Withdrawal Medical Leave Refund of Fees Request for Course Exemption Re-alignment Request for Print of Award Replacement of Award

Academic Probation

Pre-requisite Override

Examinations and Assessment 17-23

General Examination Regulations/Guidelines

Examination Timetable

Examination Clashes

Required Documents for Examinations

Debarment from Examinations

Right of Appeal

Rooming for Examinations

Candidates with Special Needs

Candidates with Communicable Diseases

Attire

Seating in the Examination Room

Storage Area for Bags

Firearm Owners

Arrival Time for Exams

Late Arrivals

Communication During Examinations

Borrowing During Examinations

Use of Mobile Phones and Other Devices

Other Prohibited Items

Challenges During the Examination

Working During the Examination

Anonymity of Candidates

Writing Examinations

Absence from Examinations

Treatment of Examination Material

Removal of Examination Script

Rights of Candidates Sitting Examinations

Proctor Arrangements

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Examination Results & Grade Appeal Procedures 24-25

Examination Results

Grade Appeal Procedures

Mid Semester Examinations

Final Examinations

Request for Re-mark of Examination

Failed Courses 26

Supplemental (Re-Sit) Examinations

Repeating Courses (Redo)

Lost Examination Script/Course Work 26

Academic Misconduct 27-34

Minor Offences

Major Offences

Gross Offences

Procedures to follow in cases of Academic Misconduct

The General Misconduct Committee Sanctions

Grievance Procedure 34

Grievance Committee 35

Graduation 35-36

Requirements for Graduation

Participation in the Ceremony

The Ceremony

Awards

Awards Criteria

Student Responsibilities 37-40

Identification Cards

Student Email Account

Dress Code

Electronic Devices

Orientation

International Students’ Requirements

Class Attendance

Class Times

Forbidden Activities

Driving/Parking

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College Facilities 41

The Wesley Powell Learning Resource Centre (Library)

Computer Labs

Student Services 42-44

Student Affairs Office,

*Transcripts

*Letters

Academic Advisement

Health and Wellness

Food Services

Security

Guidance and Counseling,

Academic, Social and Cultural Activities 44-46

Work Experience and Job Placement,

Overseas Internship

Cultural and Social Activities,

Social Outreach,

The Student Union,

Clubs and Societies

Frequently Asked Questions 47-49

Disaster Procedures 50-54

Earthquakes

Hurricanes

Critical Incident Management 55

College Personnel 56

Important Dates 57

Addendum

COVID-19 Protocols/Guidelines 58

Code of Conduct for Online Classes 59

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P r i n c i p a l ’ s We l c o m e

M e s s a g e

It is indeed a pleasure to welcome new and returning students to

Excelsior Community College (ECC). Congratulations on your deci-sion to become an “Excelsior Eagle” part of a tradition of excellence. Our value proposition and innovation are "applied technologies and experiential learning" that transitions into our programmes. At Excelsior Community College, we offer open access that allows you to successfully attain your goals via our Pathways flexible enrolment options. We are committed to the philosophy ex-pressed in our tagline “Transforming Lives, Nurturing Global Citizens”. To that end we provide a student centred environment rich in the resources you need to enhance your intellectu-al, moral, social and professional development. You are encouraged to diversify your interests and develop your social skills through participation in our diverse co-curricular and student engagement activities. ECC provides its students with the most relevant, current and globally portable qualifications which includes a wide variety of programmes, and a suite of accredited programmes by the Uni-versity Council of Jamaica (UCJ). We have established international linkages with institutions such as Hocking College (Ohio, USA), and Niagara College (Canada) with which we deliver several joint programmes. Excelsior is also committed to its students’ receiving professional certification, and offers prepa-ration for the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA Academy) and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry qualifications. Similarly, the Bach-elor of Science Degree in Business Studies students who specialize in accounting benefit from advanced placement in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certifica-tion programme. Additionally, students pursuing degree programmes can participate in the an-nual International Partnerships and Cultural Exchange programme in the United States of America that facilitates experiential learning in other countries and cultures. As a Methodist institution, ECC strives to inculcate a Christian worldview in our students. Also, the values and attitudes required to be agents of transformation in a world that needs such exam-ples. First year students are required to participate in the PACE (Philosophy, Aesthetics and Citizenship Education) programme and the University Values and Attitudes Course (U-VAC). The College has a vibrant Social Outreach Programme which provides students with the oppor-tunity to volunteer in a range of community service activities to develop effective servant lead-ership characteristics. As we begin another academic year, I encourage you to take responsibility for your learning. Take advantage of the many opportunities for personal development and networking which will come your way. Let us work together in transforming lives - always aiming Yet Higher. Age Animo - "Do It With Thy Might"

Mr. Philmore McCarthy

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Vice Principal, Student Affairs Welcome Message

Welcome to Excelsior Community College (ECC) at

such a time as this! Despite the challenges of COVID-19, you have not been deterred from continuing your educa-tional journey. Thank you for making ECC your institu-tion of choice – “meeting you where you are and taking you where you want to go”- to join the many other dis-tinguished graduates now contributing to national and international development in a wide variety of fields.

Excelsior Community College provides so much opportunity for you to explore your interests, hone your skills and unleash your potential through participa-tion in a wide variety of academic programmes and co- curricular activities even in this virtual environment. I impress upon you the importance of estab-lishing your goals and developing your individual plans for your academic, social and personal development and staying the course in pursuit of your dream and aspiration.

We have a vested interest in your wholistic development and so I make this clarion call for you to join at least one of our clubs and societies, participate in our sports activities, complete the mandatory non-academic requirements for the completion of your programme of study and most importantly, participate in the governance of your College through your Student Union.

As you embark on this phase of your academic journey, the Student Affairs Division is here to provide you with a supportive and enabling environment throughout your studentship and ultimate certification via our online and lim-ited face to face programmes and services as we strive to operate in a safe en-vironment. I encourage you to take responsibility to keep abreast with the in-formation sent to you via your ECC email and other online portals. This Handbook contains important and useful information that will assist you from admissions to graduation. You are expected to familiarize yourself with the contents, especially those areas that speak to the regulations, policies, pro-cedures and your rights and responsibilities.

I wish you a very productive, rewarding and enjoyable experience and pledge our full support in serving you in this ‘new normal’ environment. In the true spirit of Excelsior – “Yet Higher”, I extend to you a warm welcome.

V.P Naomi Jacobs

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V i c e P r i n c i p a l , A c a d e m i c A f f a i r s & I n s t i t u t i o n a l A d va n c e m e n t We l c o m e M e s s a g e

Welcome to Excelsior Community College!

On behalf of the academic staff and wider Excelsior Community College family, welcome to the begin-ning of an exciting journey at ECC and by extension the family of the Excelsior Education Center. The recent Covid19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the educational land-

scape and pushed us to explore teaching and learning in new and different ways. At ECC we have been gradually entering the online distance education environment for several years, but as incoming students you will be joining the ECC family at a time when most groups will be operating in a blended for-mat with a mixture of online and face to face classes. This is new territory to many of you, but we are committed to ensuring you are guided and supported along the way. Your journey here at ECC will be equally defined by the com-mitment of the qualified and nurturing staff that will facilitate your learning. Ultimately, all levels of staff are committed towards providing an environment that will assist you in achieving your academic goals. You have made an excel-

lent choice in Excelsior Community College.

As an institution we continue to offer industry-driven and responsive pro-grammes that seek to prepare our students to meet both local and interna-tional needs. Please take advantage of all the opportunities offered to you in facilitating your holistic development, some of which include our devotional hours, clubs and societies, career development center, sports department or

learning resource center.

A successful higher education experience is a shared responsibility and as adult learners in an adult learning institution our goal is to work with you in ensuring a successful journey. As our institutional vision states “Excelsior Community College is an innovative, learner-centric, community-focused, Methodist tertiary institution catering to lifelong learning while achieving ex-

cellence in education and training”. We are committed to ensuring that we uphold this vision for all stakeholders. Please take the time to carefully read this handbook and use it as a critical guide during your journey. Be informed, be engaged and ultimately have fun doing it! In everything you do, “Age Ani-mo” – “Do it with they might” in the true fashion of “Excelsior” – “Yet higher”.

Zaria Malcolm Walker. PhD

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Registrar’s Welcome Message

The Office of the Registrar is delighted to welcome all

new and returning students for this Academic Year.

Here at ECC your success is our priority, hence you are provided with programmes, support services and activities to enable you to achieve your professional, academic and personal goals. As you have made

ECC your choice for higher education, I encourage you to take advantage of any grants, scholarships, academic advisement and any other opportunities

or assistance available in pursuit of your goal.

You have entered ECC in an unprecedented time as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted all of us socially and economically. Despite this, you have been resolute in your decision and aim for personal development and cer-tification. Having taken this decision, I am confident that you will be resilient in completing your study within the prescribed duration for your programme.

As adult learners, I impress upon you the importance of familiarizing yourself with the information in the Student Handbook, Code of Conduct, your School Handbook and other information communicated in advisories to students. This is critical in understanding your rights and responsibilities in success-

fully completing the journey on which have embarked.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of timely selection of your courses and registration each semester; knowledge of all the requirements for suc-cessful advancement in your programme; the process for requesting letters

and transcripts; the procedures for obtaining leave of absence, course exemp-tions, adding and dropping courses and meeting other requirements to en-

sure your compliance with the requirements of your programme of study.

The Office of the Registrar is committed to providing you with the services that will make your student life an experience that will propel you to soar,

“Yet Higher”.

Sandra Joseph Chandia

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S t u d e n t U n i o n

P r e s i d e n t ’ s

We l c o m e M e s s a g e

The ECC Students’ Union Executive en-

thusiastically welcomes all new and return-ing students to a brand new academic year filled with boundless opportunities. Your decision to pursue higher learner in these tumultuous times is one that is lauded and we stand to reassure you that you have made the right choice in becoming an “Excelsior Eagle.” ECC has a marvelous tradition of producing world class leaders in every programme of study offered and we have no doubt that you will continue this tradition of excellence. We are in unprecedented times and are experiencing unprecedented challenges but your union stands ready, capable and committed to serve you now more than ever. As we stand resolute in our commit-ment to enrich your college experience, we implore you to get involved in the plethora of activities offered at the College; this may mean be-coming a member of a club or society, participating in sporting activi-ties or getting involved in student governance. Our drive to enrich your College experience will only be as strong as your drive to get involved and as such we want to impress upon you the importance of getting involved in student governance whether it is directly or indirectly. As you embark on your journey of excellence, be guided by our motto, “Age Animo”- “Do it with thy might”, as your Union and the grace of God empower you to soar, yet higher.

Ryan Reid

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PHOTOGRAPHS UNA-VAILABE AT THIS TIME


PHOTOGRAPHS UNAVAILA-BE AT THIS TIME

STUDENT SERVICES DIVISION

PHOTOGRAPHS UNAVAILA-BE AT THIS TIME

PHOTOGRAPHS UNAVAIL-ABE AT THIS TIME

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STUDENT SERVICES DIVISION





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PHOTOGRAPHS UNAVAILABE AT THIS TIME

Health & Wellness Team Members

Sport Department Team Members


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Assessment Services Members

Registry Department Team Members

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The Vision

Excelsior Community College is an inno-vative, learner-centric, community-focused, Methodist tertiary institution ca-tering to lifelong learning while achieving excellence in education and training

The Mission

Excelsior Community College contributes to National and Global Development by providing an enabling and research-driven environment that enhances Learn-ers’ lifelong development and provides so-lutions for the Public and Private Sectors

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S T A T E M E N T O F B E L I E F S

As a learner-centered community college, Excelsior Community College (ECC) will promote:

LEARNING

The College strives to achieve high principles, standards and ideals that form the foundation for its contribution to society. The community of educators ascribe worth to the following:

i. Adopting the principles of the Learning Organization, ECC believes in the value of a learning organization, and strives to provide a learner-centered approach to learning in all aspects of its work.

ii. Facilitating life-long learning for the continued person al and professional growth of students, staff and com munity.

iii. Creating a culture of transformational leadership capable of sustaining a learning environment.

EXCELLENCE

i. Striving for excellence based on high standards and effective sys-tems of quality assurance.

ii. Being committed to implementing policies, systems and procedures that facilitate optimization of the use of technology and oth-er resources which provide access for clients.

MORALS & ETHICS

Being committed to the development of the individual by applying the tenets of Christian principles to the development of the total individual.

COMMUNITY

ECC shares a sense of community. It values its community and encourages the engagement of all through participation, collaboration and communi-cation. It aims to provide a flexible organizational framework capable of respond-ing to the changing environment and the peculiar needs of the diverse communities it serves.

INCLUSIVENESS

ECC encourages the contribution of all stakeholders and believes in justice and fair-ness as well as open communication and exchange of ideas.

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C O L L E G E P R O F I L E

B r i e f H i s t o r y o f t h e C o l l e g e

The Excelsior Education Centre (EXED) Complex was developed as a community institution to provide educational training and services “from the cradle to the grave.” The EXED Group of Schools comprise a Pre-Primary School, Primary School, Secondary High School and Community College.

The Excelsior Community College is the tertiary level of the Excelsior Education Centre (EXED).

Excelsior was founded by Dr. Hon. Aston Wesley Powell on January 19, 1931 with five students on the verandah of his parents’ house in Campbell Town, Kingston. By the 1970’s, the school had grown to almost two thousand (2000) students and was then situated on Mountain View Avenue in Eastern Kingston. The institution was acquired by the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas in 1950 and the Church has since been an integral part of the development of the complex of schools.

With adult education at the Centre, a pilot project geared to the training of teachers for the Secondary School system, commenced in 1971. In 1972, what later developed into the Evening Division of the College was added.

In 1974, the Community College was formally launched, under the leadership of Mr. Thomas E. Dwyer. Both day (full time) and evening (part-time) programmes including Teacher Training, Nursing Education, Business Education (including Secretarial Studies) and Pre-University Education were added. The latter absorbed the existing sixth form of the Excelsior High School. In 1978 a Library Technical Assistant (LTA) Programme was introduced.

Classes were held on the Excelsior High School campus until the 1979-1980 aca-demic year when the College moved into its own premises on lands adjoining the High School.

HIGHLIGHTS

The following represents a breakdown of the historical developments in the life of the College:

1984 Intermediate Continuing Education Programme (ICEP) started

1985 Teacher Training, Nursing Education discontinued by Government

1986 Registered Nursing Programme re-established (private)

1987 Computer Studies (Diploma) Programme started

1988 Government support for Registered Nursing Programme resumed

1991 Cosmetology Department established

1992 Day and Evening Divisions merged

1993 Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurial Department established

1993 Satellite Campus established in Morant Bay, St. Thomas

1995 First award of Associate Degrees (Business Studies)

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1998 Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Management Programme com-menced 1998 Performing Arts Department established 1999 Founding Principal retired 2000 Second Principal, Dahlia Repole, assumed duties 2000 Academic Board launched (Now Academic Advisory Board) 2001 Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science launched 2002 Community Development Programme launched 2003 New site for the Wesley Grove, St. Thomas Campus received from the Methodist Church 2003 The Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Management Department relo-cated to the campus established at 20 Camp Road, Kingston 2004 University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) accredited five programmes in the Computer Studies Department 2006 Programmes in Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Management received UCJ accreditation 2009 Programmes in Business Studies received UCJ accreditation 2009 Second Principal, Dahlia Repole, PhD, retired 2009 Third Principal, Nadine Scott, PhD, assumed duties 2009 Week-end College started. 2010 Associate Degree programme in Library Technical Studies received UCJ accreditation 2012 School of Performing Arts moved to 95 Church Street, Kingston 2013 School of Engineering Logistics and Built Environment moved to 68B Dean-

ery Road; Kingston 3 2014 Third Principal , Nadine Scott. PhD, retired. 2014 First Chairman of the Committee of Management demitted office . 2014 Appointment of new Chairman of the Committee of Management, Mrs. Pa-tricia Sinclair McCalla. 2014 Fourth Principal, Philmore McCarthy assumed duties. 2019 College received candidacy for Institutional Accreditation 2019 School of Performing Arts relocated to Main Campus. 2020 Centre of Occupational Studies launched, Associate Degree in Per- form-ing Arts accredited 2020 Associate Degrees in Social Work, Architectural and Construction Technology, and Environmental Studies accredited 2020 Commencement of Masters’ Programmes 2021 Operation of a new campus at Eureka Road

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I M P O R T A N T N O T E

New and returning students are required to familiarize themselves with the infor-mation in the Student Handbook

Upon registering, each student at Excelsior Community College agrees to observe and obey the policies and rules governing students in the College. The Col-lege has the right to change any information appearing in the Student Handbook, Code of Conduct or any other document relating to admission.

C A M P U S E S

The College currently operates from five (5) locations:

1. The Main Campus situated at 137 Mountain View Avenue, Kingston 3 (Website: http://www.ecc.edu.jm, e-mail: [email protected]) houses the:

i) Faculty of Business Management

School of Business and Entrepreneurial Studies

School of Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Management

ii) Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering

School of Computer Studies

School of Engineering Logistics and Built Environment

iii) Faculty of Humanities and Education

School of Liberal Arts

School of Performing Arts

Department of Library Technical Education

iv) Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences

School of Aesthetics & Cosmetology

School of S.T.E.M

School of Nursing and Allied Health

2. Camp Road Campus

The School of Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Management is located at 20 Camp Road Kingston 4.

3. St. Thomas Campus:

The Wesley Grove Campus in Port Morant which also houses the

Assistant Nursing Training Programme (ANTP), formerly referred to as the

Enrolled Assistant Nursing (EAN) Programme.

4 Deanery Road Campus which houses the School of Engineering, Logistics and Built Environment located at 68B Deanery Road.

5. Eureka Road Campus

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G O V E R N A N C E A N D A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

Excelsior Community College is one of 8 Community Colleges that form part of the tertiary system that is partly funded by the Ministry of Education..

Decision Making and Monitoring Mechanism

As a publicly owned Methodist institution, the College is governed by a Committee of Management (COM) comprising representatives of the Church, Minis-try of Education, staff, students, alumni, community, as well as the Principal and Bursar. Select members of the COM sit on the EXED Board of Man-agement which oversees the affairs of all the Schools in the EXED Complex.

The Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ)

All 8 Community Colleges are governed by the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica Act (2001) which established the Council as a statutory body. The functions of the Council include:

determining conditions for the holding of examinations leading to the

award of degrees, diplomas, certificates or other awards to persons who have pursued an approved course of study;

considering, recommending and approving the curricula; and

examining and assessing the work of students in training.

The Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is a standing committee which makes recommendations to the

Senior Management Team of the College. It aims to provide consistent monitoring of

the academic and support systems in an effort to ensure alignment with and achieve-

ment of institutional mandate and gives consultative advice to aid the effective func-

tioning of the Academic Board and alignment with strategic goals. The Academic

Board is the academic authority of the College and has responsibility for the approval

for academic related matters. Its responsibilities include the development and moni-

toring of academic policy, standards, curriculum development and teaching and learn-

ing. The Academic Board is chaired by the Vice Principal of Academic Affairs.

Accreditation

Excelsior Community College is committed to excellence in the quality and delivery

of its programmes. ECC has been classified as an ‘A’ College by the Ministry of Edu-

cation and is registered with the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ). See page 11

for list of accredited programmes.


O F F I C E R S O F T H E C O L L E G E

The Principal is the Chief Executive Officer of the College and is responsible to the Committee of Management for the overall organization and operation of the institu-tion. The Principal chairs the Executive Committee of Management which includes the Vice Principals, Deans, Human Resource Director, Bursar, Registrar, Director of Instructional Development and Plant Management and other select officers of the College.

The Vice Principal of Academic Affairs and Institutional Advancement

reports to the Principal and has primary responsibility for the academic

policies and standards of the institution, including leading the accreditation process.

The Vice Principal of Student Affairs reports to the Principal and has primary re-

sponsibility for admissions and enrolment, registration, records management, behav-

ioral management, student development, student services and general welfare of

students.

The Human Resource and Administration Director is responsible for the manage-ment of the College’s human resources. Functions include recruitment, retention and staff development.

The Bursar is the Chief Accounting Officer of the College and is responsible for the general administration and control of the financial and business affairs of the institu-tion. Deans of Faculties

Each of the four (4) faculties is headed by a Dean who reports to the Vice Principal of Academic Affairs and Institutional Advancement. Each Dean is primarily responsible for:

a) providing leadership in the development and maintenance of excellence in the Schools within the Faculty.

b) monitoring the activities within the Schools. c) preparing the budget for the faculty in keeping with the plans and

programmes

The Deans of Student Development and Student Services

Both Deans assist the Vice Principal, Student Affairs in the development and provi-sion of student services and activities to hone enhance student’ social, personal and professional development

The Registrar reports to the Vice Principal, Student Affairs and has responsibility for admission, managing the registration and records of students. The Registrar also has responsibility for the administration of examinations which is delegated to the Director, Assessment Services Unit.

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H e a d s o f S c h o o l s

Each School is headed by a Principal Lecturer whose responsibilities include the following:

a) planning, guiding, monitoring and evaluating the performance of staff and students in the School;

b) providing fair representation of the School and student opinions and con-cerns to the Administration;

c) communicating opinions and decisions of Administrative Officers to members of the School; and

d) providing academic advice to students.

A D M I S S I O N A N D R E G I S T R A T I O N

Applications to the College are received each year from November to August. How-ever, the cut off date for applications for the Nursing programme (UWI) is usually the end of January/February each year. Application deadlines for summer, modular and short courses vary based on the start dates for these courses. Applications can be made online at the website www.ecc.edu.jm. Applicants should ensure that all the supporting documents are available for uploading as this is critical for the completion of the process. The required documents must be certified by a JP, Minister of Religion or Principal. Should applicants encounter difficulties in uploading, the hard copies can be submitted to the Student Affairs office. Application forms can also be obtained at the College website https://ecc.edu.jm/about-us/forms or at the Student Affairs Office at the Main Campus (Mountain View Avenue). There is a non-refundable application fee.

Applications may be considered during September but may attract a late application fee. Documents that should accompany the completed application are:

The applicant’s birth certificate/Deed Poll (original and a copy);

Two passport size photographs ;

The applicant’s examination results;

Tax Registration Number (TRN) Card/Letter (original and a copy);

One character reference (either from the last school attended or most recent em-

ployer or Justice of the Peace or Medical Doctor or Lawyer or Minister of Religion or Inspector of Police or Army Officer);

The applicant’s marriage certificate where applicable (original and copy).

Applicants can apply pending examination results.

N.B. For franchised programmes, applicants are expected to complete the appropriate

forms and submit all required documents as advised by the Enrolment Officer.

E n t r y R e q u i r e m e n t s

Entry requirements vary based on the programme of study to be undertaken by the applicant. Information on entry requirements for available pro-grammes may be obtained at the Student Affairs Office or on the College web-site (www.ecc.edu.jm).

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Non Refundable Commitment Fee

All new students are expected to pay a non-refundable commitment fee to reserve a place at the College. This fee will form part of the school fees on enrolment in the College. Acceptance into the College

On return of the completed application form and relevant documents, the applicant will pay the application fee before submitting the form to the Enrolment Officer. An ac-ceptance letter and other student information will be sent via email. The student makes arrangements with the Student Finance Office for the payment of fees and pay the fees as agreed with the Student Finance Office. Activate his/her student account and take the necessary steps to register for courses.

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

1. Requirements for Registration

The registration process begins when a prospective student is accepted into the institution or a returning student is given clearance for promotion or to repeat a course. During the process, the prospective student will need to:

Download the contents for the registration package at www.ecc.edu.jm or collect same at the Student Affairs Office.

Among the items in the registration package for incoming students are:

- Medical Form

- Dress Code Guide

- Polo/Oxford Shirt Order Form

- Letter with important dates

Student Handbook and Code of Conduct are accessible on the Col-lege website.

Students may make payment of fees at Paymaster , Scotia Online or at

the College. Payment transaction at the College is restricted to the use of credit or debit card. only Students must have their ID number in order to facilitate payment. No cash payment is accepted on campus for school fees.

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Obtain Academic Clearance

Heads of School or their appointees must approve a student’s programme of study. A student may register for individual cours-es/modules or a full programme of study at the start of each semester. Stu-dents will be allowed to sit examinations in only the courses for which they are registered.

Obtain Financial Clearance

Financial clearance is given to students in full compliance with their payment plans as agreed. Proof of payment made at the Main Campus or commit-ment letters for school fees are to be submitted to the Student Finance Of-fice.

Financial Hold

Students who have not honoured their financial obligations after three weeks of the start of a semester will be placed on financial hold.

Obtain Medical Clearance

Each student entering the College is required to do a medical prior to being registered. The completed medical form must be submitted to the College Health and Wellness Centre, where the Nurse will give medical clearance.

All medical information is kept in strict confidence by the College Nurse at the Health and Wellness Centre.

2. Criteria for Registered Student

A Registered Student is one who satisfies the following criteria:

Academic approval is given by the School;

Financial obligations to the College are met and

financial clearance given by the Student Finance Office;

Medical clearance is given by the College Nurse;

All required forms for registration are completed and submitted to

the relevant Offices. The form indicating that the student had read the Handbook must be submitted to the Student Affairs Office.

Course selection is done online on the Aeorion portal.

Students who have not honoured their financial obligations after three (3) weeks of the start of the semester will be placed on financial hold. Only stu-dents who have been given financial clearance will be able to access the online learning portals of the College, provided with status letters or tran-scripts, or have the opportunity to represent the College.

All students who have made at least the first payment of their school fees will be given a College identification card indicating name, ID#, Faculty, Hall, pro-gramme of study and expiry date.

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3. Late Registration

Any student registered after the registration deadline for each semester will be required to pay a late registration fee.

4. Penalties for Non-Registration

A student is required to be registered each semester while attending the College. Any unregistered student who attends classes or participates in College activities does so in contravention of the rules and regulations of the College. The College reserves the right to take the necessary action(s) to prevent such a student from:

Entering the compound or accessing classes

Participating in any student organization or

College activity

Sitting examinations

Accessing the library and other College facilities

Obtaining an I.D. card

5. On-line Registration

All Students are required to activate their accounts on Aeorion SMS using their Student ID Number.

Students must then select the courses for the current semester as advised by their Academic Schools.

N.B (i) New students must meet the registration requirements in order to receive

their ID card.

(ii) Returning students must meet with their Heads of School/Academic Advi-

sors for academic advisement and confirmation of courses to be selected for

the semester.

STEPS

i. Students will be required to log on the system (aeorion.ecc.edu.jm)

Students must click on “Activate Account.” (The student will be required to

enter their assigned student ID# and date of birth using the example shown

on the system). He/she will be required to provide additional information such

as password, security question and secondary email address.

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ii. The system will then indicate that the student account is now active and may

proceed to login and register for classes.

iii. Students must select the term/semester for which they are registering (e.g.

2020 - Semester 1 - Undergrad Day - ECC Main Campus).

iv. The student must complete ALL steps in order to complete registration.

v. For Step 4 of the process students will need to seek clearance from the Stu-

dent Finance Office after paying in full or making a payment plan arrange-

ment.

Students must ensure that they register for courses using the correct course codes as

displayed in their programme brochure. Should you experience challenges, please

check with the Student Affairs Department or seek assistance via the support chan-

nels of the College.

.

7. Cancellation of Courses

The College reserves the right to cancel any programme/course that is not financially viable. This will be done within one (1) month of the start date for the programme/course and student will be refunded tuition fees paid or coun-selled to select another programme.

8. School fees Tuition and other ancillary fees are normally calculated for the school year. Fees are due at the beginning of each semester, unless otherwise stipulated.

There is a separate charge for redo, resit and modular courses.

F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M A T I O N

All students are required to make a financial contribution to the cost of their edu-cation at Excelsior Community College.

Fee Structure - Local Students

The Government of Jamaica makes a contribution to the tuition fees for Jamaican students enrolled in most programmes. However, students are still re-quired to pay fees approved by the Ministry of Education for the following:

Contribution to tuition fees on a “cost sharing” basis

Examination fees (excluding external examinations)

Ancillary (Identification card, Student Union, Student Welfare Fund)

Personal Accident Insurance

Other Services

In addition, all students are expected to pay a non-refundable registration fee. Infor-mation pertaining to the amount payable for tuition, registration and other administra-tive is available from the Student Finance Office .

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Fee Structure - International Students

International students will be required to pay the afore mentioned fees and are also expected to bear the full cost of tuition as the Government of Jamaica does not con-tribute to the tuition of non-nationals. Information pertaining to the tuition fee paya-ble may be obtained from the Student Finance Office. International students must meet Jamaica’s immigration requirement for foreign students before they can be enrolled as valid students in the College. Further information can be obtained from the International Partnerships and Cultural Exchange Office. They can be contacted at [email protected] .

Fee Payment

Payment of fees can be made using cash or manager’s cheque at any Paymaster branch or electronically at the Accounts Department on the Main Campus using a debit or credit card or on-line. Personal cheques or unauthorized payment methods are not acceptable. Additionally, Bank of Nova Scotia account holders may use Sco-tia Bill Payment to pay fees. Students will need to use their ID# in order to pay fees. This is located in the acceptance letter.

Non Refundable Fee

All new students are expected to pay a non-refundable commitment fee to reserve a place at the College. This fee will form part of the school fees on enrolment in the College.

Payment Plan

The College recognizes that there will be cases where persons may not qualify for financial assistance by agencies of the state or private entities or may be unable to pay in full for courses on or before the due date. The College tries to as-sist these students by offering several payment plans.

Below is the procedure for applying for part payment:

1) Collect Tuition Payment Plan from Student Finance Office;

2) Select the payment option that best suits you;

3) Pay the processing fee at the Accounts Department for the payment plan select-ed;

4) Submit the Payment Plan along with the Payment Plan receipt to the Student Finance Office;

5) Collect printed Payment Plan Contract from the Student Finance Office;

6) Pay school fees based on payment schedule;

7) Keep your payment receipt(s) for the duration of your studies for reference, if this becomes necessary.

.Note: Any deviation from the Payment Plan must be communicated immedi-

ately to the Student Finance Office.

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Scholarships and Awards

The College offers limited financial assistance to a number of registered students.

These are usually very competitive. Available scholarships and awards include:

The Sanguinetti Scholarship

Earl Buckle Award

Sports Scholarships

Departmental Scholarships

Community Scholarships

Academic Scholarships

Students selected for College scholarships and awards must satisfy certain

criteria that may include, but are not limited to the following:

Proven financial need

Good academic standing

Good moral character and leadership

A sense of social responsibility

Participation in co-curricular activities Further information on available scholarships and awards may be obtained at the

Office of Financial Aid.

Government Assisted Schemes

These schemes are subject to availability.

Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB)

Applications to the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) for assistance in the next academic year, take place from January to May each year.

Registered students are eligible for assistance from the SLB and JAMVAT as follows:

- All Associate Degree programmes

- All Bachelor’s Degree programmes

- Diploma - Enrolled Assistant Nursing

An applicant to the SLB will receive a letter from the Bureau outlining the status of his/her application. Applicants must follow the procedures outlined in the letter before tuition fees are disbursed to the College. Applicants who provide evidence of special needs may also be able to access grant – in – aid in order to purchase books, stationery etc.

mailto:[email protected]

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Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH)

Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) will assist with tuition fees,, students who were enrolled in the PATH programme in High Schools and are now attending tertiary institutions and studying at the Bachelor’s level. Ap-plicants must complete and return PATH application forms available at the ECC Financial Aid Support Office. Information from the form will be sent to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which will make a decision as to the assistance to be given.

NOTE: Applicants must indicate on the form their PATH number in High Schools.

Students who apply for any of the above schemes must submit a letter of commitment from the relevant agency to the Student Finance Office during the registration process to enable provisional registration.

In cases where the application for assistance does not cover all or part of the school fees the student is required to make the necessary arrangements to pay the fees

NB

For further information on the government assisted schemes, students should con-tact the Officer of Student Financial Aid Support.

The Post Secondary Grant is a one-time payment which is provided to assist children in PATH households who have graduated from a secondary school and are moving on to an approved post secondary level institution. (Post secondary institution must be registered with the Ministry of Education, the University Council of Jamaica or any other recognized certifying state agency).

How to Apply

1. Visit the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Parish Office. 2. Complete the post-secondary school Grant Application 3. Submit the following documents:

Letter of Acceptance from the Post-secondary Institution. ID for family representative.

Tertiary Bursaries

Students on PATH in first (1st) to fourth (4th) year in a tertiary level institution can re-ceive a bursary valued at $100,000.00 to assist with tuition fees.

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Eligibility criteria:

Applicant must be a member of a registered PATH household. Applicant should have received a benefit from PATH while in Secondary

School. Pursuing a Bachelors Degree.

Students must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or the equiva-lent.

To apply, applicants may collect application forms from the Students Affairs Office or the PATH Parish Office.

Social and Economic Support Programme (SESP)

Members of Parliament are usually allocated funds from the SESP Unit at the Office of the Prime Minister. These funds are sometimes used by the Parliamentarian to assist students in their constituencies to attend tertiary institutions.

Tertiary Assistance Scholarship and Loans Programme

Members of the Public Service are eligible for Tertiary Assistance Programme through the Ministry of Finance and Public Service Strategic Human Resource Man-agement Division, Scholarship and Assistance Unit. Applications are usually done via the Human Resource Department of the Ministry to which the parent/student belongs. Please contact your Human Resource Department for further details.

Other Scholarship Programmes which students can access are:

Grace Kennedy Foundation Scotiabank Foundation NCB Foundation Digicel Foundation Ministry of Education Courts Jamaica Limited Ministry of Finance – Scholarship & Training unit Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited JNBS Scholarship Programs VMBS CHASE Fund Bustamante Foundation Tastee Limited Betting Gamming and Lotteries Commission Jamaica Energy Partners

1

http://www.mof.gov.jm/scholarships.html

http://scholarshipjamaica.com/jnbs-legacy-scholarship/

http://scholarshipjamaica.com/chase-fund/

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G E N E R A L A C A D E M I C I N F O R M A T I O N

Academic Structure

The College is organized administratively into four (4) Faculties with ten(10) academic departments / schools

1. Faculty of Business Management

School of Business and Entrepreneurial Studies

School of Tourism Hospitality and En-tertainment Management

2. Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering

School of Computer Studies

School of Engineering, Lo-gistics and Built Environment

3. Faculty of Humanities and

Education

School of Liberal Arts

School of Performing Arts

Department of Library Technical Edu-cation

4. Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences

School of STEM

School of Nursing & Allied Health

School of Aesthetics & Cos-metology

Each department/school is responsible for the delivery and management of several programmes and courses of study.

Programmes of Study

The College offers certification at the following levels:

Masters

Post-Graduate Diploma

Bachelor’s Degree

Associate Degree

Diploma

Certificate

To date the following programmes have been accredited/re-accredited by the UCJ:

Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration

Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration

Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems

Associate of Science Degree in Management Information Systems

Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality Entertainment and Tourism

Associate of Science Degree in Hospitality Entertainment and Tourism

Associate Degree in Library Technical Studies

Associate of Arts in Performing Arts

Associate of Science Degree in Environmental Studies

Associate of Science Degree in Psychology

Associate of Science Degree in Social Work

Associate of Applied Science in Construction and Architectural Tech.

Associate of Science in Information Technology

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See Faculty Handbook for information on respective Schools and details of pro-grammes.

The Credit System

The programmes at the College are assessed based on a credit system. Each School will provide students with the information on the number of credits that are required for a specific course of study. See Faculty Handbook

The College has adopted the University Council of Jamaica’s equivalency standard of one (1) credit to a minimum of 15 lecture hours or 45 laboratory hours.

The Grading System

The College uses a four point grading system. Students should consult their Facul-ty Handbooks for the grade point average scales. The table below outlines the grades and codes used by the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) as at September 2014.

EXAMINATION GRADES, POINTS AND DISTRIBUTION

Percentage Scale

Grade Grade Point Student Performance

Description

90-100 A 4.00 Excellent

80-89 A- 3.67

75-79 B+ 3.33

Good 70-74 B 3.00

65-69 B- 2.67

60-64 C+ 2.33

Satisfactory 55-59 C 2.00

50-54 C- 1.67

45-49 D+ 1.33 Marginal Fail – Re-sit

40-44 D 1.00 Fail - Redo

0-39 U 0.00 Unsatisfactory

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Calculation of GPA

1) Multiply the course credit by the earned grade point to obtain the total grade points for each course.

2) Add the total grade points for all courses.

3) Add the total course credits for all courses attempted.

4) Divide the total grade points earned by the total course credits; i.e., Step 1 is divided by Step 2.

5) Levels of Awards

G.P.A. CLASSIFICATIONS

3.70 – 4.0 Honours

2.70 – 3.69 Credit

1.70 – 2.69 Pass

G.P.A. CLASSIFICATIONS

3.70 – 4.00 First Class Honours

3.30 – 3.69 2nd Class Honours (Upper)

2.70 – 3.29 2nd Class Honours (Lower)

1.70 – 2.69 Pass

Bachelor of Science Degree Associate Degree

Course A B C D E F G Total

Course Credit 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 22

Grade A + B B – A- C + C C –

Grade Points 4 3.00 2.67 3.67 2.33 2.00 1.67

Grade Points Earned

12 9.00 8.01 11.01 6.99 6.00 6.68 60.59

G.P.A. 60.59 22

= 2.76 Grade Points Earned Total Course Credit

Transfer to New Programmes

A student may request a transfer to another programme at the start of an academic year. Such requests should be made on the form provided in the Student Affairs Office or College website and should be signed by the respective Head/Assistant Head of the School and submitted to the Student Affairs Office for change to be made on the SMS. Requests for transfer of programme should be made within the first 4 weeks of the academic year. Requests will not be accommodated after the deadline.

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Add/Drop Procedure

Registered students who wish to change a course, that is, add or drop a subject, are required to do the following:

1. Request for add/drop of courses within 4 weeks of the start of the semester. Students doing CAPE and CSEC subjects are not allowed to add/drop sub-jects after the 4th week of semester 1.

2. Obtain an “Add/Drop” form from the Student Affairs Office/College website

3. Complete the form, submit it to the Head of School for approval and then submit it to the Student Affairs Office.

4. Check to ensure that the adjustment is made on the SMS.

Refund may be granted for courses dropped within the prescribed time indicated

Leave of Absence

A student may request a Leave of Absence for a semester or a period of up to one year in the first instance. Requests should be made in writing to the Registrar, and must be supported by a completed “Notice of Leave of Absence” Form, signed by the Head of School.

The decision whether or not to grant leave will be made by the Vice Principal of Student Affairs or the Registrar or their designate. Once approved this will be up-dated on the SMS. Students will be contacted via email if their requests are reject-ed. All applications for leave of absence after week 3 of that semester will be rejected. After week 3 students should submit a withdrawal form and will be liable to pay the stipulated tuition.

Leave of absence will not be granted for more than two (2) consecutive aca-demic years and this must be specially approved by the Academic Board. Leave of Absence is not granted retroactively and applications must be submitted by the third week of each semester. Students will not be permitted to pursue any course at the College while on leave of absence. Students should submit a com-pleted resumption form at the end of a leave of absence.

Official Withdrawal from the College

A student wishing to withdraw from a programme should complete the Withdrawal Form provided in the Student Affairs Office or on the College website. A student who officially withdraws from a programme may be able to claim credits earned provided he/she re-registers within a period not exceeding five (5) academ-ic years.

Unauthorized Withdrawal

A student who is absent from classes for more than four consecutive weeks without completing a Withdrawal Form will be deemed to have withdrawn unofficially from the College. Re-admission will be considered only after the student applies to the College and undergoes the usual application procedures, including the interview by the Head of School.

Medical Leave

A student is required to submit a medical certificate to the Student Affairs Department/Head of School/Assistant Head of School if he/she is absent for more than three (3) consecutive days.

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Refund of Fees

Refund of fees is not automatic and will be granted on the merits of the specific case. Students are required to complete the “Request For Refund” form which can be obtained online or from the Student Affairs office. Cheques will normally be available within thirty (30) working days from the date of submission of the com-pleted “Request For Refund” form.

Refund will also be granted where the College cancels a programme or where tui-tion fees have been overpaid. Proof of payment must be provided to substantiate over payment. Application, registration and Jam Copy fees are non-refundable; however, registration and JamCopy fees may be refunded if a programme has been cancelled. Refund will also be granted upon the cancellation of a request for transcript or letter. The following are the maximum rates for the refund of tuition fees where a student withdraws from the Col-lege/programme: .

Re-

quest for Course Exemption

Requests for exemption must be done using the specified form which is available at the Student Affairs Office. Submissions must be made by the end of July or at the end of November in each semester and should include the completed Exemption Form, supporting documents (transcript, course outline(s), evidence of matriculation). Requests for exemption for courses in the CCCJ programmes will be submitted to that office for their assessment.

Re-alignment

The maximum time span for completion of a CCCJ programme can be considered as the normal duration of that programme plus three (3) years.

Where a student does not successfully complete a CCCJ programme within the maxi-mum five (5) years), he/she may reapply by completing an application and paying the application fee. A request for re-alignment to the current programme will be made to CCCJ. The request should be submitted with a transcript.

Request for Print of Award

Students who do not complete their programme of study within the normal duration, must submit a “Request for Print of Award” form to the Student Affairs Office upon successful completion of the outstanding course(s). The form is available at the Student Affairs Office. Verification will be done to ensure that the student has met all the necessary requirements for the award and can be cleared for ratification.

Within one week after the scheduled start of the semester 90%

Within the 2nd week after the scheduled start of the semester 75%

Within the 3rd week after the scheduled start of the semester 50%

3 weeks after the scheduled start of the semester Nil

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Replacement of Award

Certificates/diplomas/degrees awarded by the CCCJ cannot be replaced by the College. This request is to made in writing to the CCCJ via ECC, subject to a pro-cess. The student however, may request a letter of completion or transcript upon payment of the relevant fee.

Academic Probation

All students who have a cumulative GPA below 1.67 will be placed on academic alert. The academic alert status will enable the College to provide needed academic sup-port and guidance to assist students in successfully competing their programme of study. A student on academic alert has 2 semesters to improve his/her GPA and may be given a reduced course load.

Pre-requisite Override

A pre-requisite is necessary for a student to be promoted to the higher level of a pre-requisite course. Students requesting a prerequisite override must have a mini-mum GPA of 2.7 during course selection . The Head of School has the option to approve or deny this request.

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EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT

The examination and assessment process is an integral component of every

programme offered by the College. As such, the Assessment Services Unit (formerly called the Examinations and Assessment Services Unit)

is committed to maintaining a standard quality in its assessment processes.

Student assessment may include:

Course work pieces (i.e. tests, projects, presentations)

Oral Examinations (for prescribed courses)

Practical Examinations (for prescribed courses)

Written Examinations

Excelsior Community College has three final examination periods:

Semester 1 - December

Semester 2 - May

Semester 3 - August There are three sessions each day: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Some groups (Nursing) will have evening sessions for examinations. These sessions will begin at 5 p.m.

Section I - General Examination Regulations/Guidelines

1.1 Examination Timetable

The date and time for each examination will be communicated by means of the publication of timetables at each campus. Timetables will also be available online. The first draft of the timetable will be posted at least two (2) months prior to the start of the examination period. Draft timetables are subject to change, and candidates are advised not to make plans based on dates represented in these drafts.

Candidates are also responsible for keeping abreast of any changes to the timetables by checking the notice board frequently. Absence resulting from a candi-date misreading the timetable is not considered a justifiable cause for missing an ex-amination. This will result in the candidate receiving a zero, and having to wait until the next available sitting for a redo/resit of that course. 1.2 Examination Clashes The onus is on the candidate to inform the Assessment Services Unit of any clashes that they have. Clashes should be reported at least three (3) weeks prior to the start of the examination period. In instances where these clashes are unresolved, the affected students will be quarantined for the day. They should report to the Examina-tion Centre on the morning of the examination, and will be allowed to leave the exami-nation room only if they are accompanied by an invigilator.

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1.3 Required Documents For face to face mode Examinations

1.3.1. Identification Cards

Each candidate is required to bring his or her College identification card to all examinations. This must be displayed in a prominent position on the desk. If a candidate has forgotten to take his/her ID, he/she should quickly report to Student Affairs so that a replacement can be provided. This will attract a fee.

1.3.2 Examination Permits

No candidate will be allowed to sit an examination without his/her exam-ination permit. In order to print this permit from the Aeorion Student Manage-ment System, the candidate should be registered for the courses being done and have obtained financial clearance from Student Finance. Such a per-mit must be valid for the period in which the examination is being done .

Each candidate must present his/her Examination Permit to the Invigila-tor before 'entering the Examination Room'

Examination Permit will be held by the assigned invigilator and returned to the candidate at the end of the sitting.

1.4 Debarment from Examinations

The College maintains a 90% class attendance requirement for all programmes. In the event that a student fails to meet this requirement for any reason - other than illness certified by a medical doctor or another reason deemed valid by the College - the College reserves the right to bar this student from sitting that examination. In case of illness, a valid medical certificate must be pre-sented.

Other valid reasons may include instances in which a candidate:

a. is representing the College on approved activities;

b. is required to perform national or statutory duties; or

c. has an emergency or another situation which the College may deem as be-ing an extenuating event.

Candidates who have not met the class attendance requirement for any of the reasons outlined above must communicate in writing to the Registrar at least three (3) weeks prior to the start of the examination period. Candidates will be provided with a written response of the Registrar’s decision within ten (10) work-ing days after the candidate’s request is received.

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Where a candidate does not observe the aforementioned procedure, he/she will be barred from sitting the relevant examination, and grade of “0” will be ap-plied to his or her records.

1.5. Right of Appeal

A candidate, who has been barred from any examination as a result of his/her failure to meet the class attendance requirement, may appeal or submit his/her justification for not attending classes for consideration by the Registrar. Such appeals/justifications must be received within two (2) weeks prior to the start of the examination period. No appeals will be considered after this period. 1.6. Rooming For Examinations

The rooms designated for each examination will be posted daily at least one hour before the start of the examination. Candidates should, therefore,

check the notice boards for the room listing. 1.7 Candidates with Special Needs

Candidates with special needs include, but are not limited to can-didates with debilitating physical or mental conditions;

(a) who are experiencing emotional and psychological trauma; or (b) have been affected by COVID-19.

(c) Candidates with pre-existing conditions who wish to have special arrangements made for them should submit their requests in writing at least ten (10) working days prior to the start of the examination period. Candidates must also provide documentation to support t their claims. (d) Should the candidate have an emergency, on the day of examination, he/she should notify the Registrar at the time of the emergency

1.8 Candidates with Communicable Diseases

In instances where a candidate is not able to sit an examination because he/she

is infected with a communicable disease, he/she should inform the College of

this by writing to the Registrar. This letter should be accompanied

by a valid medical certificate. The Registrar may grant approval for the can-

didate to complete the examination at the next available sitting.

1.9. Attire

In order to be admitted to an examination, candidates should comply with the dress code of the College. See dress code on page 41. 1.10 Seating in the Examination Room Seating is arranged using students’ ID numbers. Students are expected to sit according to this arrangement.

.

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1.11 Storage Area for Bags

Students are not permitted to take their bags into examination rooms. As such, the College provides secure bag storage facilities for students who are sitting examinations. Notices will be posted to indicate where these facilities are housed.

1.12. Licensed Holder of Firearm

The College does not permit the storing of weapons in its bag storage areas or any other area on the compound. Students who are legal firearm holders are asked to visit the nearest police station and make arrangements for the safekeeping of their firearms.

1.13. Arrival Time for Exams

Students should be present at the examination room at least fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled start of the examination. Students should enter the examination room only when instructed to do so by the invigilator.

1.14 Late Arrivals

Candidates who arrive late for their examination will not be allowed any extra time to complete the examination. Any candidate who arrives after the first thirty (30) minutes of an examination will not be admitted to the examination room unless permission is given by the Registrar or other authorized person-nel from Assessment Services. This allowance will only be considered if no candidate writing the same examination has left the examination room.

If a student is allowed to enter the examination room after the first thirty (30) minutes, a report form will be completed by the invigilator documenting this.

1.15 Communication During an Examination

Candidates are not permitted to communicate verbally or through the use of electronic devices during an examination. If a candidate wishes to speak with the invigilator, he/she should raise his/her hand and await the arrival of the in-vigilator. Invigilators and lecturers are not allowed to offer candidates any assis-tance in interpreting questions.

1.16 Borrowing During Examinations

The borrowing or lending of equipment during examinations is strictly prohibit-ed. Students should, therefore, ensure that they have all the tools that are needed for each examination.

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1.17. Use of Mobile Phones and Other Devices

Candidates must never take mobile phones or other electronic devic-es to the examination room. The use of these devices is considered a major offence for which students may face penalties which may include, but are not limited to:

1. award of a grade of zero; 2. voiding of all work previously submitted for the course in question; and 3. disqualification of the student from all examinations of the College for a

specified period.

1.18 Other Prohibited Items Students should not take the following items into the examination room, and persons found in breach will be subjected to serious dis-ciplinary action. a. Cases for pencils and other implements

c. Bags, purses and handbags

d. Programmable calculators and those that are not operation ally quiet

e. Books or paper of any kind

f. Earplugs and headsets

g. Towels and caps

h. Heavy jackets

i. Watches with alarms

1.19. Challenges During the Examination

If a candidate’s ability to complete an examination is affected by circum-stances which had not been reported prior to the start of the examination, the candidate may inform the Registrar in writing within ten (10) working days after the examination. The Registrar will make a decision and forward this to the College’s Examination Sub-Committee for approval.

1.20 Working During the Examination

Candidates must take heed to the instructions given by the in-vigilators. As such, candidates should not begin to write the ex-amination until instructed to do so by the invigilator. Likewise, candidates should stop writing once the end of the examination is announced.

1.21. Anonymity of Candidates

Candidates must write their identification numbers on their ex-amination scripts. They must NOT write their names or any other identifying marks anywhere in the answer booklet.

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1.22. Writing Examinations

Unless instructed to do otherwise, candidates must write their examinations using a black or blue ink pen, or the prescribed pencil where necessary.

1.23. Absence from Examinations

If a candidate is absent from an examination without medical or other valid reasons, he or she will be awarded a zero for that examination. For ab-sence due to illness, a valid medical certificate must be produced to the Health and Wellness Center within seven (7) working days of the examination which was missed.

Other valid reasons for absence from an examination may include instances in which a candidate:

is representing the College on approved activities;

is required to perform national or statutory duties; and

has an emergency or other situations which the College may deem as be-ing extenuating circumstances.

Candidates who have missed examinations for reasons outlined above should complete the Missed Examination Form and submit it to the Student Affairs Office. Students claiming medical reprieve must get approval from the School Nurse. These requests must be received within 15 working days after the ex-amination. The Registrar will make a decision and forward this in writing to the Assessment Services Unit for the candidate to sit the examination at the next available sitting. Failure to make these requests within the required time will bar the candidate from receiving any consideration that may have been given.

Candidates will be notified of the decision within ten (10) working days after the request is received.

1.24 Treatment of Examination Material

Candidates should be guided by the following standards pertaining to the treatment of examination material:

Unless otherwise advised, all examination material must be surrendered at the end of each examination.

Examination booklets should not be torn or otherwise defaced.

There should be no writing on the examination permit.

1.25 Removal of Examination Script

In instances where an examination script has been removed from the des-ignated area (i.e. the examination room), the student will be awarded a final grade of zero and will be required to redo the relevant examination at his/her personal cost.

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1.26. Rights of Candidates Sitting Examinations

Candidates have the right to report in writing any perceived breach/infringement of their right which takes place during an examination to the Registrar or Head of the Assessment Services Unit. These reports will be examined by the Examination Sub-Committee, and candidates informed of the outcome.

1.27 Proctor Arrangements

a. In instances where a candidate for special circumstances needs to sit his/her examination at a site other than his/her campus, an approved proctor must be contracted to administer these examinations.

b. The onus is on the candidate to secure an acceptable proctor.

c. Each candidate and proctor will be required to complete a Proctor Agreement Form which is to be submitted to the Student Affairs Office no more than fifteen (15) business days prior to the start of the examination period.

d. Upon receipt of the form, the relevant personnel will determine the suitability of the proctor. Subsequently, candidates will be advised, within ten (10) business days, if the recommended proctor has been approved or denied.

e. Once the proctor has been approved, the required examination material will be sent directly to the proctor by electronic mail.

f. The following persons may serve as Proctors: College, University or Professional Testing Centre Full time College or University Faculty Member High School Principal or Superintendent Professional Librarian A certified teacher/lecturer State-Certified Elementary or High School

Teacher Full time Member of the Clergy

Special approval must be given for any other recommendation outside of those listed in f above.

The following persons are not eligible to serve as a proctor: i. Fellow student ii. Relative of student iii. Resident at same address as student iv. Direct supervisor of student v. Co-worker of student vi. Employee of student vii. Friend of student

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Section II—Examination Results and Grade Appeal Procedures

2.0 Examination Results

Preliminary examination results are posted on Aeorion Student Manage-ment System. Lecturers are not authorized to issue final results to stu-dents. In addition, examination results are not issued over the telephone.

2.1 Grade Appeal Procedures

2.1.1 Coursework

A student has the right to appeal the grade received for course work projects or other forms of in-course assessment . The appeal process is as follows:

2.1.1.1 The student should confer with the course lecturer and seek to have the matter resolved.

2.1.1.2. If there is no resolution, the student should make a written appeal to the Head of School. The appeal should be filed within ten (10) working days of the grade being posted.

2.1.1.3. The Head of School should conduct an investigation and sub-mit a written response to the student within ten (10) working days of receipt of the student’s written appeal.

The investigation will Involve consultation with the lecturer involved and, if necessary, consultation with a sec-ond marker.

2.1.1.4. Should a change of grade be required, the Head of School will communicate this to the lecturer.

2.1.1.5 If the student is still dissatisfied, a further appeal can be made to the Grade Appeals Committee. The decision of the Grade Appeals Committee will be regarded as final.

The Grade Appeals Committee

The Grade Appeals Committee shall be ad-hoc and is chaired by the Vice Principal, Academic Affairs. The committee should comprise the Registrar or his/her appointee; the Head of the School, the Student Union Staff Advi-sor and a member of the Academic Board who is not a member of staff. In the event that that any of the officers named above is a party to a dispute being heard by the Committee, the Principal shall nominate another member of staff to replace him/her.

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2.1.2 Mid semester Examinations Mid semester Examinations are administered each semester during weeks six (6) and seven (7). These examinations are administered by lecturers during the scheduled class times or online. Where there are several groups doing the same course, the lecturers of these courses may arrange a com-mon sitting for these examinations.

Each candidate is usually required to present his or her College identification card and a valid mid-semester examination permit for all mid-semester examinations. 2.1.3 Final Examinations

A student has the right to appeal a final examination grade which he/she deems to be erroneous or unfair. This appeal must be submitted to the Assessment Services (formerly Examinations Centre) within ten (10) working days of receipt of the grade.

The appeal process is as follows:

2.1.3.1 The student will complete the Grade Review Form which may be acquired from the Student Affairs Office.

2.1.3.2 Once the completed form is returned by the student, a

representative of Student Affairs will notify the relevant Head of School of the appeal.

2.1.3.2. The Head of School will organize a meeting with the student and the lecturer in question to review the stu-dent’s work. During this meeting, the student will be provided with an explanation as to how his/her grade was arrived at.

2.1.3.3 If the review results in a change in the student’s grade, the Head of School shall write to the Registrar re-questing a change in the student’s grade as well as providing the justification for this.

2.2 Requests for Re-mark of Examination

If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, he/she may request a re-mark of his or her examination script. In order to have this done, the stu-dent must submit the request to the Registrar in writing and pay the applicable fee no later than five (5) working days after the review is completed.

An independent assessor will be contracted to re-mark the student’s script. The mark awarded by the independent assessor is considered final. If the remarking of the student’s script results in a higher grade and a change in the letter grade, the fee paid by the student will be refunded.

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Section III- Failed Courses Depending on the grade received, any student who fails a course may be required to either resit the final examination or redo the course in its entirety. The guidelines pertaining to each or these are as follow:

3.1Supplemental (Re-sit Examination) Re-sit of an examination is allowed if a student receives a failing grade of between 45% and 49%. Such requests should be made within five (5) business days of the posting of grades. In order to do so, the student must complete the Re-sit Form which may be acquired from the Student Affairs Office; pay the required fee; and return the receipt to Student Affairs within the time period indicated so that an examination per-mit may be issued. Where courses do not have exams, students will have the oppor-tunity to resubmit major assignment or re-do the course, unless the curriculum stipu-lates otherwise. 3.1.1 Maximum Number of Supplemental Sittings Allowed Any student who receives a grade between 45% and 49% is allowed to sit a supplemental examination (for the particular course) on only ONE occasion. The candidate will have one year after the initial sitting of the examination to complete this re-sit. 3.1.2 Number of Courses Examinable by Supplemental Examinations Candidates will not be permitted to sit more than four (4) supplemental examinations in one examination sitting. 3.1.3 Retention of Coursework Grade: A student who does a re-sit of an examination may have his or her coursework grade from the previous sitting retained only if he or she had received a passing grade for the coursework. If the student failed the coursework, the re-sit examination will carry a 100% weighting. 3.2 Repeating Courses (Redo) Students who obtain a final grade of below 44% must repeat/redo the course. That is, the student must register for the course, attend classes and do all in course assign-ments/tests. When a student repeats a course, the new grade and credits will be in-cluded in the cumulative G.P.A . Section IV - Lost Examination Script/Course Work

4.1 Lost Examination Script

In instances where it is verified that a candidate’s examination script – or a com-ponent has been lost, the candidate may be given one of the following options:

a. re-sitting an equivalent examination at no cost to the candidate. If the next sit-ting of the examination is at a date far removed from the time that the student was under instruction, the College will arrange for the candidate to be provid-ed with any instruction needed at no cost to the candidate.

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Lost Examination Script (cont’d)

b. accepting the coursework grade as the final grade

c. accepting the coursework grade and any other marked

component of the examination as the final grade. Lost Course Work

4.2 In instances where a student alleges that his or her coursework was lost by his/her lecturer:

4.2.1. the allegation will have to be verified; that is, the student will

have to produce the receipt that was given upon submission of the assignment (in the case of a test or if a receipt was not given, the teacher will have to verify this); and

4.2.2 the student will be given one of the following options: a. redoing a comparable piece(s); b. accepting the average grade if more than one piece of

work is missing; or c. accepting the minimum passing grade.

Section V - Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct or academic dishonesty refers to any act or attempted act which seeks to give the perpetrator an unfair academic advantage over other students in the process of assessment. The College views every incident of academic misconduct seriously and will penalise any student who is found guilty of any offence which may be categorised as such. Offences may be categorized as minor, major or gross offences depending on the seriousness of the incident.

5.1 Minor Offences

An offence may be regarded as being minor if it is obvious that the infraction came about as a result of an error in judgment or a genuine lack of under-standing rather than a deliberate attempt to cheat. It should also be the first offence of this nature.

Minor offences include, but are not limited to: a. starting to write the examination before being instructed to do so; b. continuing to write the examination after the invigilator has instructed students to stop working; c. disrupting an examination; or d. any other act not listed herein but which may be deemed as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage while undermining the assessment process.

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5.2 Major Offences

Major offences include but are not limited to: 5.2.1 Infractions Outside of the Examination Room

a. fabricating citations; b. plagiarizing, that is, using or attempting to use, the work of another person (whether authorized or not), and seeking to submit this work as one’s own work; c. presenting another students’ work as one’s own; d. any evidence of collusion in the completion of course work assignments; e. resubmitting a paper which was previously sub-mitted for another class without the knowledge or consent of the lecturers; f. repeatedly committing minor offences; or g. any other act not listed herein but which may be deemed

as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage while undermin-ing the assessment process.

h. failing to follow directives/instructions issued by an invigila-tor;

5.2.2 Infractions During the Course of an Examination

a. copying from another candidate’s examination paper; b. allowing another candidate to copy from one’s examination paper; c. assisting or attempting to assist another candidate; d. receiving assistance from another candidate; e. taking unauthorised material into the examination room; f. taking a cellular phone or other unauthorised device into an examination room; g. failing to hand over unauthorised material/ equipment upon the request of the invigilator or other examination personnel; h. discussing answers during an examination; i. leaving the examination room with the examination script; j. repeatedly committing minor offences; or k. any other act not listed herein but which may be deemed as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage while undermining the

assessment process.

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5. 3 Gross Offences

Gross offences include, but are not limited to:

5.3.1 Infractions Outside the Examination Room

a. forging any college document (e.g. examination per-mits, transcript) or attempting to use a forged docu-ment in order to gain

entry to an examination

b. purchasing essays, SBAs or other forms of assess-ment;

c. submitting essays, SBAs or other forms of assess-

ment which were acquired through purchase or other

means as one’s work;

d. selling or attempting to sell essays, SBAs or other forms of assessment;

e. repeatedly committing major offices; or

f. any other act not listed herein but which may be deemed as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage while undermining the assessment process.

For infractions categorized as gross offences, once the Student Misconduct Discipli-nary Committee of the College or CCCJ has ratified the decision of the Disciplinary Committee, the candidate shall be notified that:

a. All work (coursework, examinations, practical's or other work) submitted by him/her for assessment for that course in which he/she was found to have cheated, and any grade previously assigned to aforementioned course, shall be rendered void and of none effect.

b. She/he shall not be eligible for any re-sit of, or supple-mental examination for this course, during the academic year in which the incident of cheating occurred.

c. She/he shall be required to redo the entire course, at a time subsequent to this date.

d. She/he will be solely responsible for any charges that are associated with the redo of the course in a year subse-quent to that in which the infraction was committed.

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f. Any repeat of this or similar infraction could lead to the student being barred from the programme and such infor-mation becoming a part of his/her permanent academic record or transcript.

g. She/he shall be required to meet with the Guidance Counselor of his/her College for a minimum of two (2) counseling sessions relating to this infraction, prior to his/her being readmitted to any course at the College.

5.3.2 Infractions During the Course of an Ex-

amination a. impersonating someone else or allowing oneself to

be impersonated during an examination; b. possessing and using unauthorized aid in an exami-

nation; c. acquiring or attempting to acquire examina-

tion material prior to the authorized administration of an examination;

d. distributing or attempting to distribute examina-tion material prior to the authorized administration of an examination;

e. repeatedly committing major offences; or f. any other act not listed herein but which may be

deemed as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage while undermining the assessment process.

5.4 Procedures to be Followed in Cases of Academic Misconduct

5.4.1 Infractions Outside an Examination Room

For offences committed outside an examination room:

a. a written report, along with all supporting evidence, should be submitted to the Head of School;

b. the Head of School should write to the student informing him or her of the allegations;

c. the student should be allowed to respond to the allega-tions;

d. the Head of School will carry out investigations; e. a written report of the findings of these investigations along

with appropriate recommendations should be submitted to the Vice Principal, Student Affairs for a final decision to be made.

Depending on the gravity of the allegations being brought against the stu-

dent, he/ she may be required to appear before the General Miscon-duct Committee.

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5.4..2 Infractions Committed During an Examination

5.4.2.1 If a candidate is suspected of committing a breach, the invigilator should:

a. Try to have another invigilator confirm the suspi-cion;

b. verbally warn the candidate about his/her behavior and allow the candidate to complete the examina-tion;

c. have the chief invigilator and the candidate com-plete and sign the relevant sections of the Irregu-larity Form

5.4.2.2 If the candidate has unauthorized material, this should be

confiscated and the relevant sections of the Irregularity Report completed and signed by the invigilator and the candidate. The candidate should not be disrupted or de-nied the opportunity to complete his/her examination. It is only after completing the examination that the candidate should be asked to complete and sign the relevant sec-tions of the Irregularity Report.

5.4.2.3 At the end of the examination, all reports and supporting evidence shall be handed over to the Di-rector of Assessment Services or an

authorized representative.

5.4..2.4 The Director of Assessment Services shall hand over all reports and evidence to the Examination Sub-Committee which will assess each case presented.

5.4.2.5 Students with cases which are deemed to be minor, and who do not contest the allegations made against them, will be issued with a formal

reprimand. This will be placed on the student’s academic record.

5.4.2.6 For cases deemed to be major or gross offences,

the General Misconduct Committee, will hear

the matter and make a determination of sanctions to

be applied based on the nature of the infraction.

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5.4.2.7 Students should receive written notice of the meeting no later than seven (7) working days be-fore the date of the meeting. This notice should indicate:

a. the allegation being brought against the student;

b. the date, time and venue of the meeting;

c. the students’ right to be accompanied by a family member, friend or legal representative. Students who have acquired the services of an Attorney-at- Law must inform the college of this at least seven (7) days before the date of the hearing;

d. that failure by the candidate to attend the meeting

without providing a satisfactory explanation prior to he meeting will result in a decision being made in the candidate’s absence.

5.5. The General Misconduct Committee

The General Misconduct Committee is a standing committee which has been authorized by the Examination Sub-Committee to consider allegations of academic misconduct.

5.5.1 Terms of Reference

The General Misconduct Committee shall:

5.5.1.1 hear allegations of academic misconduct;

5.5.1.2 make a determination of the category of misconduct which was committed by the student;

5.5.1.3 examine any evidence presented carefully and objectively;

5.5.1.4 recommend the sanctions to be applied for the infraction which was committed.

5.5.1.5 submit a report to the Examination Sub-Committee sum-marizing the allegations, explanations and their recommendations.

5.5.2 Composition

The General Misconduct Committee shall comprise:

5.5.2.1 no fewer than seven (7) members provided that the Chair-man or the Vice Chairman and the Student’s Union Repre-sentative are in attendance.

5.5.2.2 the Dean of Student Services, or an assigned representa-tive of comparable status, who will act as the Chairperson for the committee;

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5.5.2.3 a member of senior management;

5.5.2.4 The Registrar

5.5.2.5 A member from the Academic Committee

5.5.5.6 A member from the Administrative Committee

5.5.2.7 A member of the public

5.5.2..7 a Student Union representative

The College requires that the following persons attend the meeting of the General Misconduct Committee:

i. the student against whom the allegations were made;

ii. the person who the student opted to have ac-company him/ her;

iii. the invigilator of the examination in which the breach occurred; or

iv. any other person(s) who the College deems to be rele-vant in determining the outcome of the case.

The recommendations of the General Misconduct Committee shall be for-warded to the Sub-Committee or the CCCJ (as the case may apply) for a final decision to be made.

5.6 SANCTIONS

5.6.1 Minor Offences

The penalties for minor offences include but are not confined to:

a. community service as stipulated by the Misconduct Committee;

b.a written warning, a copy of which shall be placed on the student's file.

5.6.2 Major Offences

The penalties for major offences include but are not confined to:

a. award of a grade zero for the work in question with an opportunity to resit/resubmit; or

b. suspension from the College for a period not exceeding two semesters.

c. No academic or general awards can be conferred

d. Referral to external agencies for further consultation/counselling

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5.6.3 Gross Offences

The penalties for gross offences include but are not confined to:

a. All work (coursework, examinations, practicals or other work) submitted by the student for assessment for that course in which he/she committed the infraction shall be rendered void and of none effect.

b. disqualification of the student from all examinations of he Col-lege for a specified period (See CCCJ Handbook for Policy)

c. dismissal from the College.

G R I E V A N C E P R O C E D U R E

To resolve a grievance concerning matters within the College, the following steps shall be observed:

i) The aggrieved student shall seek to have discussion with the other par-ty/parties involved;

II) If there is no resolution, the aggrieved student shall request the assistance of his/her Head of School and/or the relevant Department Su-pervisor;

iii) If there is no satisfactory resolution within ten (10) working days the ag-grieved student shall request the assistance of the Vice Principal, Stu-dent Affairs, to assist in the resolution of the grievance;

iv) If the matter is not resolved through informal means, the aggrieved stu-dent shall make a written request, through the Vice Principal, Student Af-fairs, for the matter to be heard by the Grievance Committee. Where either Vice Principal is a party to the dispute, the request should be routed through the Principal.

Grievance Committee

The Grievance Committee shall be ad hoc and shall consist of two members of staff from the relevant School; two students chosen by the Executive of the Student Union, a Chairperson appointed by the Vice Principal. The Committee shall meet no later than ten (10) working days after receiving the written request. The Committee mem-bers shall decide if sufficient grounds exist for a formal hearing to be held. If the Grievance Committee decides that there are sufficient grounds for a hearing, it shall notify all parties, including witnesses to attend a hearing.

The decision of the Committee shall be communicated in writing to the student by the Chairperson of the Committee within five (5) working days of the hearing.

Parties who remain dissatisfied may refer the matter, in writing, to the Committee of Management and copied to the Principal.

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G R A D U A T I O N

The College’s Annual Graduation Ceremony is usually held on the fourth

Thursday in November.

Requirements for Graduation

Students will only be listed as graduands if they meet the following criteria:

Satisfied all pre-requisites for the programme of study

Successfully complete all components of the programme of study

Attained minimum class attendance as stated in the Programme

Booklet.

Fulfill all financial obligations to the College

Returned all library books and other College property

Participation in the Graduation Ceremony

Students who meet the requirements above and who wish to participate in the Grad-uation Ceremony should also do the following:

Register online using their ECC email account for participation in the ceremo-ny or by completing and returning the relevant forms within the time indicat-ed. The forms will be available from the Student Affairs Office.

Pay the required fee.

Attend rehearsals.

The Ceremony

On the day of the ceremony graduands are required to be fully robed in gowns and

caps and be in attendance at least one hour before the scheduled start of the ceremo-

ny. Any graduand who is late will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.

Awards

Major awards will be conferred at the Graduation Ceremony or at the Annual Student

Awards Ceremony.

Each academic year, ECC recognizes students for outstanding academic excellence

and contribution to the social and cultural life of the College at the Student Awards

Ceremony.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances which prevents the usual face to face event

from taking place, a virtual ceremony will be held.

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A W A R D S C R I T E R I A

GRADES:

Selection Criteria CCCJ, ECC CSEC/CAPE, Professional Diploma, Asc, Bsc and

Post Grad. programmes:

· Chairman’s Award: 3.67 GPA and higher (Average grade of 80% or higher)

· Principal’s Award: 3.33 – 3.66 GPA (Average grade of 75%-79%)

· Certificate of Merit: 3.00-3.32 GPA (Average grade of 70%-74%)

Selection Criteria for Graduate Students:

Selection Criteria ECC-UWI Students:

· Chairman’s Award: 4.00-4.3 GPA (Average grade of 80% or higher)



Students on the ECC Other 1.1 TECVOC Catalog (CAP, COSMO, Security Cert):

· Chairman’s Award: 4.00 GPA and higher (Average grade of 80% or higher)



BEHAVIOUR:

Students who have been found guilty of any offence by the General Misconduct Committee will not be eligible for academic wards.

GOOD FINANCIAL STANDING:

To qualify for academic awards, students must be in good financial standing with the College. Students with outstanding balances will not be considered for academic awards.

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S T U D E N T R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

Identification Cards

Photographs for identification purposes are usually taken within two weeks of

registration each academic year. Students will be advised when photographs will

be taken and the ID Card available for collection at the Student Affairs Office.

Evidence of registration is to be presented when taking photographs. If there

are circumstances which prevent students from taking ID photographs on cam-

pus, they will be advised of the alternative process to obtain an ID Card.

Day students must be fully attired in their school uniform while evening & week-

end students are expected to be in appropriate attire.

ID cards are required chiefly for entering the College compound, accessing clas-

ses, borrowing library books, sitting exams, accessing records and transacting

any other business with the College. These cards should be displayed to security

personnel contracted to the College and other College authorities upon request.

The loss of an ID should be reported to the Student Affairs Office immediately. A

fee may be charged for a replacement.

Student Email Account:

Students have a responsibility to monitor their student email account as the College will communicate important information through this medium.

How to access your Email Account:

.(a) Log on to aeorion.ecc.edu.jm.

(b) Click on “Activate” Account.

( c) Enter your ID number and date of birth using the example given online.

(d) Provide additional information requested, such as a password, security question and a secondary email address.

(e) The System will then indicate that you are now active.

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Dress Code

All students are required to adhere to the College’s dress code as detailed below while on the school compound and on such occasions where the student is represent-ing the College off campus:

a) Students are required to wear the prescribed uniforms for their respective schools.

b) All other day students are required to wear shirts with colours and designs specified by the College.

c) Evening and week-end college students are expected to attire themselves in a manner appropriate for the office.

d) Inappropriate attire include but is not limited to:

- tube tops

- Midriff blouses

- halter back blouses

- spaghetti straps

- merinos

- clothing which causes the breasts and buttocks to be exposed

- visible under garments

- low rider jeans, distressed jeans, ripped jeans

- short trousers, Jogger pants

Students who are seen on the compound inappropriately attired will be immediately escorted to an appropriate office for this misconduct to be dealt with. He/she will be issued with a “green” card in the first instance; a “blue” in the second and a “red” in the third.

Offences:

First Offence - Green : lowest tier on the colour coded card system.

Second Offence - Blue : second tier of the colour coded card system.

Third Offence - Red : the most serious tier of the colour coded card system (See Student Code of Conduct Handbook)

N.B A student who receives a red card on one or more occasion will:

- have the infraction recorded on his/her file;

- be referred to the Principal for action to be taken; and

- have this infraction conveyed to his/her parent/guardian. (where necessary)

http://aerion.ecc.edu.jm/

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Electronic Devices

The illegal or improper use of cellular phones which may include but not limited to the posting of voice or image in a public forum may be referred to law enforcement.

Orientation

All in-coming students must participate in orientation activities including those ar-ranged by their respective Schools. Orientation involves a wide variety of activities and experiences designed to assist students to become familiar with the College environ-ment, the staff, rules and regulations.

International Students’ Requirements

CARICOM nationals as well as citizens of Commonwealth countries are allowed entry to Jamaica without a student visa. On arrival, such a student should attend the Office of the Chief Immigration Officer at Passport and Immigration Citi-zenship Agency (PICA) to obtain the relevant permit, and should take along with him/her the letter from the College indicating that he/she is to be enrolled as a stu-dent subject to the issuance of the visa. This letter will be provided upon request.

Citizens of Non-Commonwealth countries are required to obtain valid student visas prior to entry into Jamaica. Such persons should make their requests at the nearest diplomatic mission or consulate.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to participate in at least 90% of lectures for each course. Students who are unavoidably absent for three or more consecutive days are re-quired to present a valid medical certificate or a letter of explanation to the Head of School and copied to the Student Affairs Office for his/her file. Students who fail to meet the standard may be barred from sitting examinations.

A student who is absent for more than four (4) consecutive classes for the same course or a maximum of five (5) consecutive days in any one semester, without prior explanation, must report to the Head of School before returning to classes.

Students are expected to be on time for their classes. If no student arrives after 15 minutes for a 1-hour class or 30 minutes for classes 2 hours and more, the lecturer should report the matter to the Head of School or the Vice Principal’s Office.

Most importantly, lecturers must be on time for their classes. Students should con-tact their lecturer or Head of School if no lecturer arrives after 15 minutes for a 1-hour class or 30 minutes for a class 2 hours or more.

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Students who experience ongoing challenges with internet connectivity and or devices that impact their attendance or participation in the online teaching /learning activities should promptly report this to their lecturers.

Class Times

Given the requirements by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, the College has adjusted its delivery modality to include more online and distance teaching and learning, in addi-tion to limited face to face. teaching as the infrastructure allows. Classes may therefore be con-ducted anytime within the following schedule:

Online classes Monday to Friday (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)

On campus classes (face to face)

Day Students: Monday to Friday ( 8:00 am - 4:00 pm )

Evening Students: Monday to Friday ( 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm)

Week-end College Students: Friday ( 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm )

Saturday ( 8:00 am - 6:30 pm )

Students may also be required to attend classes outside of the hours stated above.

Forbidden Activities

Particular attention should be paid to the following activities which are forbidden on campus:

Smoking

Gambling

Extortion

Fraternizing with unauthorized persons on the campus

Playing in the classroom, canteen, labs, lecture theatre, library,

corridors, the holding area above the canteen and recreational areas

Possession, supply, sale or use of alcoholic beverages and narcotic drugs

Carrying of weapons

Display of sexual behaviours

Sexual harassment

Playing of offensive music

Playing of music without the use of ear phones in classrooms, labs,

lecture theatre, library, general offices, recreational and holding areas.

Driving/Parking

Drivers are expected to drive slowly and cautiously on the campus and observe all safety rules. Entry will be allowed subject to the required temperature check and hand sanitization process. There are designated parking areas for staff, students and visitors. Motorists are expected to follow the instructions of the security personnel.

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C O L L E G E F A C I L I T I E S

The Wesley Powell Learning Resource Centre (Library)

The Wesley Powell Learning Resource Centre (WPLRC, LRC, Library) which serves both the College and High School is the information hub of the College. It acquires, organizes and provides information in all relevant formats in accordance with the programme offerings of the College to students and faculty. Currently, the library offers a number of information services via the main library and four off-site locations which are all equipped with Wifi technology. The Library also maintains an online presence through the WPLRC online catalogue, electronic databases (EBSCOHost, ProQuest, Springer and Open Access repositories) library website and email technology. One of its mandates is to develop lifelong learning skills which are achieved through information literacy programmes offered by the Library. The services offered are exclusive to the following areas.

General Circulation/Information Common Two weeks loan service Computer / Internet service Guided inquiry Study and research

Reference and Reserve Book Collection Readers Advisory (Personal guide from a trained library staff) Overnight and Weekend Loans Study and research

Media Centre Computer / Internet Service Printing Listening/viewing multimedia resources Photography, sound recording and video recording of mainly College events Scanning Database Training Study and Research

Reprographic services Binding Photocopying Printing Scanning

Study Room Environment for quiet research and study

Technical Services The technical services area is responsible for processing all information resources acquired by the library for all campus sites. It is also responsible for mounting display relevant to current awareness and institutional events. Off-site locations: Camp Road, Princess Margaret, Wesley Grove Campus

Customized library service Virtual Library Service

Library website: wplrc.ecc.edu.jm Online Catalogue Email messaging service: [email protected] Reference Chat Feature (Talk to a library professional online) Instagram: ecc.wplrc

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Computer Labs

The College has a number of computer labs with internet services available to all students. Students who wish to use the labs outside of their scheduled classes may do so providing they adhere to the guidelines governing the use of the labs including COVID-19 measures.

S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

Registry Services at the Student Affairs Office

The Registry has the following main functions:

General Information for programmes

Admissions and Registration

Records management

Ratification and Examinations.

The staff will assist students with information on programmes, admissions, grades,

letters, transcripts, graduation, and other such matters.

Transcripts

When requesting a transcript, students must complete the prescribed forms

obtainable on the website (www.ecc.edu.jm) or at the Student Affairs Office/Offices

of the offsite Campuses. Official transcripts will be forwarded at the student’s re-

quest to another institution. Transcripts which are sent to individuals rather than

institutions are regarded as being “unofficial”.

Requests for transcripts are usually processed within fourteen (14) working days if

student started the programme before September 2016 and 10 working days there-

after. There is a charge for this service.

Letters

Letters such as those needed for embassies, recommendation, status and other

official letters must be requested using the prescribed forms which may be obtained

on the website (www.ecc.edu.jm) or from the Student Affairs Office/Offices of the

offsite Campuses. These are usually processed within five (5) working days. There

is a minimal charge for this service.

Academic Advisement

Academic advisement/counseling is offered to students across all faculties with the

aim of helping them to gain a wider knowledge of their programme of study. Addi-

tionally, academic advisement focuses on individual student’s needs, interests and

concerns. It provides guidance in the pursuit of their personal goals.

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Health and Wellness

The College Health and Wellness Centre located on the Main Campus is man-

aged by Registered Nurses. It is centrally located and easily accessible to stu-

dents and staff. The Centre is equipped with beds and first-aid supplies and equip-

ment.

The College Nurses counsel students on health related matters and

organize displays, seminars and workshops on a variety of health related issues.

Medicals are offered to incoming students at a minimal cost. These are privately

done by 1 or 2 medical doctors during a specified period. Students are usually noti-

fied of the date and time of the doctors’ visits and they are expected to make an

appointment to have their medicals done.

For illnesses or injuries beyond the scope of the Wellness Centre, students are

usually referred to the nearby St. Joseph Casualty Department for treatment.

Except in the case of accidental injury on campus, all medical costs are to be

borne by the student or next of kin.

Nursing services are also offered on the Camp Road campus.

Additionally, the College has limited gym facilities which can be accessed by stu-

dents at a minimal fee.

Food Services

Hot meals and snacks may be purchased from the cafeteria between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. However, extenuating circumstances may affect the food service and the opening and closing hours.

Security

Each member of the College community is required to take all reasonable measures necessary to secure his/her person and property. Some of the measures students should take include ALWAYS:

wear the prescribed attire and carry student identification card while on cam-pus

obey the instructions of security personnel

report the presence of unauthorized persons and/or suspicious activities to the authorities

walk in groups at nights and in sparsely populated areas, in keeping with the social distance requirement.

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Counselling Services Unit

The Counselling Programme is aimed at promoting the social, emotional, and gen-eral well being of students. The College is served by three Guidance Counsellors and a Chaplain, who offer individual and group counselling services. The Unit has an online book-ing/scheduling system and offers its services primarily via WhatsApp, Zoom, telephone and text messaging. Face to face sessions are held based on appointments through the book-ing system.

The Unit trains students in offering support to their colleagues through its Peer Counselling Programme .

ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Career and Job Placement Services

All students except those in the School of Nursing and others registered to sit CXC subjects, are expected to complete 240 hours of work experience. Exemption will be granted, upon request to students, employed in the respective areas of study. Students also travel overseas for work experience during the summer- break. They are expected to return in time for the start of school in September. The Career and Job Placement Officers assist students in determining their career goals, developing soft skills, building their portfolios and developing resumes for employment purposes. Students are also assisted in developing job-hunting skills and finding part-time, full-time and holiday jobs as well as permanent jobs upon graduation. The Placement Officer liaises with employers in the public and private sectors with the aim of determining industry needs. This information is then fed into the training programme to ensure that the training meets the needs of employers.

Overseas Internship As the environment permits, students who wish to travel overseas to fulfill the in-ternship component of their programme of study or to seek summer employment, may apply to a College-approved agency to facilitate their travel and placement. Students on such programmes are expected to bear all the associated costs, includ-ing administrative fees, the cost of visa application, air and ground travel, and ac-commodation. Through this programme students have the opportunity to gain temporary and per-manent employment on completion of their internship.

Further information on the overseas work programme may be obtained from the Programme Coordinator at the International Student Office located on the Main Campus.

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Cultural and Social Activities

Students may wish to stage events of a cultural/social nature. Guidelines for the staging of such events may be obtained from the Vice Principal, Student Affairs.

The following are some of the provisions:

Prior permission must be obtained from the Principal or his/her nominee for the staging of any event.

The Chaplain should be informed of all public religious events.

No form of vulgar or frivolous entertainment on or off campus may be held in the name of the College.

The use of the College name, logo, or any other identifiable mark in pro-motion of any event not expressly approved by the College admin-istration is prohibited.

For major events, at least two internal security officers, three police officers and two staff members must be present.

The supply, sale or use of intoxicants (e.g. alcoholic beverages) is not per-missible under any circumstances.

Social Outreach

With the exception of students in the School of Nursing and students pursuing CXC

courses, all students are expected to complete 30 hours of community service. On

completion of the 30 hours, a report MUST be submitted to the office of the Social

Outreach Co-ordinator. The report MUST be submitted in the academic year in

which the project was completed.

What happens if a student does not complete Social outreach within the first

year?

1. A list will be prepared of all students who did not complete Social Outreach in

year 1 and passed to the Enrolment Management Unit

2. Students will have to visit the Social Outreach Office for advisement and pay a

Social Outreach registration fee of $500 at the Accounts Department. The student

will subsequently receive the Social Outreach package.

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The Student Union

The Student Union is comprised of the entire student body. It is led by an executive body which is elected by fellow students to represent them.

All students registered in the College automatically become members of the Stu-dent Union. This body in conjunction with the College Administration is responsible for all student activities.

Objectives include:

To protect students’ rights and interests

To establish a sound student-staff relationship

To promote community awareness and responsibility

To organize social, cultural and educational activities

To represent each student to liaise with the administration of the College on student matters.

To liaise with Administration on student matters

Participate in the governance of the College

Clubs and Societies

Each student is required to participate in at least one club, society or committee. The following are some of the clubs and societies that are currently ac-tive:

Circle K Excelsior Consortium of Technology Students Chess Club Environmental Club Performing Arts Society Tourism Action Club University and Colleges Christian Fellowship United Nations Nursing Care Society Law Society Spanish Club Debating Society Marcus Garvey Club Film and Book Review Sign Language Social Justice Society Health and Wellness Club Peer Counselling Engineering Club Literary Society Entrepreneurial Club Eagle’s Research Club UCCF

New clubs may be formed upon approval from the College Administration. Re-quest for such approval should be forwarded to the Vice-Principal, Student Affairs through the Student Union.

Given the current environment, club activities will be facilitated using a blended ap-proach. Club members are given support by their advisors in realizing the objectives of the club and societies .

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F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

1. Who is a full time student ?

A person registered for a minimum of twenty four (24) credits in the academic year, whether day, evening or week-end.

2. How can I transfer to another Community College to complete my programme?

Students who are pursuing CCCJ programmes and wish to complete at another

Community College must express their desire in writing to the College Registrar

who will make the necessary contact

3. Who is a modular student ?

A person whose programme of study consists of specific courses that total fewer than twelve credit hours.

4. What is a programme ?

A set of courses grouped together and leading to the award of a specific certification, for example, Associate Degree in Business Studies.

5. What comprises a course?

A set of modules (units) of study within a particular subject area for example, Business Law, Communication and Pre-Calculus.

6. What is a core course?

A course that is compulsory for all students at a particular level in a programme.

7. What is an elective?

A course selected by the student that is outside of his/her major area of study.

8. What is a Re-do?

This is a course that must be repeated in its entirety due to failure. For CCCJ Programmes a student who receives a final grade which is below 45% must re-peat the course

9. What is a Re-sit?

Students who receive a failing grade ranging between 45% - 49% for CCCJ pro-grammes qualify to re-sit an examination. The privilege of re-sitting an examina-tion is available during the academic year within which the student was under instruction. A student who fails to obtain a passing grade in the Supplemental Examination would be required to re-do the entire course.

10. When is a student not eligible for promotion?

A student may not be able to move to the next level of his/her programme based on his/her academic standing. Students should consult the Handbooks of their respective Schools to determine when promotion is not per-mitted.

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11. Can students be asked to discontinue/withdraw from programmes based on academic standing?

Students who fail a certain number of courses during a “programme year” can be asked to discontinue for a period of not less than one academic year. Stu-dents should consult the Handbook of their respective School to determine the circumstances for discontinuation.

12. How are exemptions granted?

Exemptions from a specific course may be granted to students who have already successfully completed that course or an equivalent course. Requests for exemptions should be made in writing prior to registration and stu-dents will be assessed based on the following requirement:

Completed exemption request form

Submission of certified copy of matriculation certificates

Provision of course outline for courses being proposed for equivalency

Provision of transcript from institution which certified the course (s) being proposed for equivalency.

13. Can advanced qualifications be used for credit?

Applicants who hold qualifications additional to the minimum entry requirements for a programme may be given credit for courses in certain pro-grammes and may be allowed to enter such programmes at a level higher than the regular entry point. Assessment for advanced standing will take place only upon the request of the applicant and submission of supporting documents to CCCJ where applicable.

14. Can an applicant be accepted on a mature entry status?

An applicant who does not meet the regular minimum requirements for a pro-gramme but who is at least twenty (25)years of age and who has at least five (5) years working experience in the related field may apply for matriculation as a mature student. The granting of mature student status is not automatic.

An assessment will be made of the applicant’s suitability by the relevant authori-ties (these include the College’s Academic Board and the Council of Commu-nity Colleges of Jamaica). Application for assessment should be made in writing and should include copies of supporting documentation.

15. Who do I consult for academic advisement?

Academic advisement is offered to students by their respective Schools. Stu-dents who have questions relating to their programme of study may consult the Head/Assistant Head of School.

16. Who do I consult for financial advisement?

Financial advisement is offered by the Student Financial Officers who advise stu-dents on cost of courses/programmes, payment plan arrangements, re-structuring of payment plans, outstanding balances, financial clearance, modes of payment, late fees etc.

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17. When do I register as a student for the courses / programmes that I am taking?

Registration takes place each Semester, that is at the beginning of August / Septem-ber for Semester 1, December / January for Semester 2 and May / June for Summer Semester; unless there are factors which affect the schedule for the commencement of classes

18. What do I need in order to sit an end of Semester Exam? You need a:

● Printed examination permit showing courses for which student is registered

an exam time table for CSEC/GCE or CAPE exams.

● A valid school ID.

19. Where do I obtain my exam results? Students must go on-line, check and print their examination results. Students who

have queries may contact the Student Affairs Office or the Examination Centre.

20. How much time will I be given to complete my programme if this is not done within the normal time frame?

You will be given 3 years after your normal completion date to redo courses that you did not successfully complete in the CCCJ programmes.

21. Are work experience and community service (social outreach) compulsory? Work experience and community service (social outreach) are compulsory for stu-

dents pursuing both the Associate and the Bachelor’s degree

programmes offered by CCCJ. Community Service is compulsory for all students

except those doing CSEC studies. Students may refer to their programme booklets

for additional information.

22. How do I apply for a transcript or official letter?

Complete a Transcript or Letter Request Form available on the College website https://ecc.edu.jm/about-us/forms or at the Student Affairs Office .

Pay the required fee using your student ID number at any paymaster outlet

or Scotia Bill online (BNS account holders only) or at the Accounts

Department at the Main Campus .

Email the completed form along with proof of payment to [email protected] or submit to the Student Affairs Office.

The waiting period for transcripts is a maximum of 14 working days and 5 working days for official letters.

The waiting period for transcripts is a maximum of 14 working days and 5 working days for official letters.

23. Can I transfer from the day to evening or week-end programme? Students who are registered in a particular programme may request transfer from

one mode of study to another. This however may have implications for completion as courses for day/evening/week-end may not be offered at the same time. Stu-dents who wish to transfer, must complete the appropriate form and submit it first to their Head/Assistant Head of school and then to the Registrar.

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DISASTER PROCEDURES

PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTH-

IF INDOORS IF OUTDOORS

STAY INSIDE

Usually the most dangerous place is just outside where building debris may fall

DO NOT RUN!

If you are outdoors you should move to an open space away from build-ings, trees, playground structures, fences, utility wires or anything else that has fallen or may fall on you

DO NOT RUN

Instead: “Drop, Cover and Hold on”

Once in the open, kneel or sit on the ground and cover your head and face with your hands

DROP to the ground Remain in place until the shaking has stopped

Take COVER under a study table or other piece of furniture on the side away from the wall

IN A VEHICLE/SCHOOL BUS

The driver should stop the car/bus away from power lines, bridges, buildings and overpasses

HOLD on to the leg of he table or desk. If your ‘shelter moves, move with it.

Occupants should DROP down be-tween the seats (which will act as a shield) COVER and HOLD on

Stay away from windows, book-shelves or heavy objects that may fall

Be aware the heavy object may fall from overhead racks

In Science laboratories, extinguish all burners, if possible, before tak-ing cover; stay away from hazard-ous chemicals that may spill

POINTS TO NOTE:

Earthquakes rarely last longer than 60 seconds so count aloud to 60 - fairly slowly

If you do not have a shelter to hang on to ( for example if you are in the hall way or stairway) drop and cov-er the back of your neck with your hands linked and cover the side of your head with your arms to protect your neck, head and face

It is important to familiarizes yourself with the emergency evacuation routes and designated assemble point of your institution!

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EMERGENCY/EVACUATION PROCEDURES

All persons MUST move towards the nearest exit in a calm, swift and orderly manner

EVACUATION PROCEDURES FOR PEOPLE WITH

DISABILITIES

DO NOT push, shove or acci-dentally knock others down

Persons with mobility impairments or any other disability should be given priority

It is the responsibility of the Lec-ture/Tutor to ensure that their class is evacuated safely

Always ASK disabled persons how you can help BEFORE attempting any rescue technique or giving assis-

Gather personal belongings if it is safe to do so. (Reminder: take pre-scription medications out with you if at all possible; it may be hours before you are allowed back into the building - if at all)

DO NOT grasp a visually impaired person’s arm. Ask if he or she would like to hold onto your arm or if you can hold on to their elbow as you exit

Use the nearest safe stairs and pro-ceed to the nearest exit. DO NOT USE ELEVATOR!

Get the attention of a person with a hearing disability by touch and eye contact

Warn others as you evacuate Advise the of the safest route or di-rection by pointing towards exits

DO NOT STAND NEAR THE BUILDING

Once out of the building walk quickly and calmly to the designated assembly area

DO NOT evacuate disable persons in their wheelchairs

Stay in your designated assembly areas to receive updates and in-structions

ROLE OF STAFF MEMBERS:

Assist with the evacuation process

Follow all instructions given be the Emergency Wardens / Lecturers/Tutors

DO NOT return to your office, desk or room for any items left behind

Prevent persons form re-entering the building

Maintain control of the students dur-ing the emergency until released by the Emergency Wardens

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HURRICANE PROCEDURES

PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE

AT THE START OF THE HURRICANE SEASON

Check thoroughly the roof of your house, hurricane shutters, hooks and latch-es and repair where necessary

Properly secure the galvanized sheeting on the roof of your house

Obtain lumber, plywood, and concrete nails for battening up

Clear your yard and drains of debris

Prune tree limbs that are close to your house. They can cause damage to your home or utility wires during a storm

Keep in stock extra plastic bags and sheets of plastic. Plastic is

essential to prevent important documents, equipment and furniture from getting wet.

Ensure that your home insurance policy provides adequate coverage

Photograph your house and all the rooms inside for insurance purposes

Listen to weather updates

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BEFORE A HURRICANE HITS

Cover windows with storm shutters or pre-cut plywood

Wedge sliding glass doors with a bar

Elevate furniture on a raised platform (e.g. building blocks) to protect from flooding

Turn refrigerator and freezer to the coldest level. Freeze water in plastic containers

Sanitize bathtubs and fill with water. Enough water should be stored to last for two weeks for each person in your household. A normal active person requires a minimum of one litre of water per day for drinking and food preparation

Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, hanging plants, bicycles, toys and garden tools

If you are in a high-rise, know the location of the nearest stairway. Do not use the elevator

Fill up your vehicle's gas tank

Park your car in a place that will be safest from falling trees and utility poles

If your home is at risk, plan in advance where you will stay by call-ing the ODPEM Disaster Coordinator for the location of the nearest shelter

If you need transportation to a public shelter due to special needs (age, physical disability, mental disorder) register in advance with the near-est Parish Council Office and ODPEM

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DURING A HURRICANE

Do not go outside unless it is absolutely necessary. When the winds get very strong, you are in danger of being hit by flying objects

Stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors

Unplug appliances and turn off electricity and the water main water

Children should not be taken outside, since they may be in danger of being blown away

If you are away from home, remain where you are until the hurricane has passed. Many people have lost their lives trying to get from one place to anoth-er

Obey evacuation order, if issued

If possible, alert parish disaster coordinator and the police when evacuating your premises

DISASTER SUPPLIES

Clean, covered containers/portable cooler for water storage

Ready-to-eat non-perishable food items, such as mackerel, corned beef, sar-dines, tinned sausage and milk

Manual can opener

Airtight containers/plastic bags to store bread, cookies, crackers and other dry goods

Matches, candles, hurricane lamps

Battery-powered radio, flashlights and extra batteries

First-Aid kit and essential medication

Bleach and other cleansers

Tissue, soap and sanitary napkins

Disposable cups, plates, utensils and large plastic trash bags

Coal or oil stove, grill

Tarpaulin and tape

Mosquito repellent

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CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT From time to time, educational institutions have to respond to critical incidents as part of their approaches in dealing with the management of crises. According to the Feder-al Occupational Health (FOH), a critical incident is:

“A traumatic event that has sufficient power to overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope”. The individual is placed under considerable physical and psychological pressures. It is also defined as “any situation that causes unusually strong emotional reac-tions (psychological or physical) and has the potential to interfere with the ability of the affected persons to function at home, school or work.”

Within the ECC setting, an incident could be considered critical where the result is likely to cause serious disruption to the running of the College or where there is likely to be significant public and/or media attention on the College. Some examples of critical incidents that might affect the College are as follows:

An assault on staff or student(s)

A gang feud at the College or among community members

A hold-up by a criminal element on the College compound

Rape

Extortion activity on the College compound

Murder

Suicide

A break-in and vandalism

Kidnapping

A bomb threat

A road accident involving a student or a member of staff

Fire or explosion, e.g., in a laboratory

Death of a student or a member of staff

Natural disaster

Pandemic

In order to manage these incidents at ECC, a plan called “Critical Incident Manage-ment/ Safety and Security Plan” (CIMSSP) has been developed.

The Critical Incident Management/ Safety and Security Plan (CIMSSP), is a proactive and direct way of planning for and managing critical incidents/safety and security breaches. This college-based plan also includes a realistic and periodic assessment of the College’s facilities, complemented by effective decision making, in order to achieve the desired level of safety. The plan indicates specific tasks to be implement-ed once a crisis is in force.

In a effort to assess its level of preparedness for emergencies such as; Fires, Earth-quakes, Hurricanes, Bomb Threats, Terrorist attacks, and other unforeseen events, Excelsior Community College carries out periodic Emergency Drills. These may be as frequent as three times per school year.

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O F F I C E R S O F T H E C O L L E G E T O N O T E

M r . P h i l m o r e M c C a r t h y - P r i n c i p a l

Mrs. Naomi Jacobs, Vice Principal - Student Affairs

Dr. Zaria Malcolm Walker, Vice Principal - Academic Affairs & Institutional

Advancement

Mrs. Paulette Roberts Dowe, Dean - Student Services

Ms. Marlene Campbell, Dean - Student Engagement & Social Outreach

Mrs. Sandra Joseph Chandia, College Registrar

Mrs. Carol Grant-Walters, Director - Assessment Services Unit

Mrs. Marvia Wilson, Dean - Enrolment Management

Miss Sharon Black, Dean - Faculty of Business Management / Head- School of Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Management

Mrs. Gaye Campbell, Dean - Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering/ Head - School of Computer Studies

Mrs. Christine Bennett, Principal Director—EXED Academy

Mrs. Shirley Henry-Richards , Actg. Dean—Faculty of Humanities and

Education /Head - School of Liberal Arts

Dr. MòNique J. Grant Coke Dean - Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences / Head - School of Nursing & Allied Health

Mr. Dwayne Riley, Head- School of Business & Entrepreneurial Studies ???

Mrs. Joan McLeod Thomas Head, Department of Natural Sciences

Mrs. Francine Williams, Head, Department of Environmental Studies & Life

Sciences

Miss Alice Berry Head - School of Performing Arts

Mr. Mark Shand, Head - School of STEM

Mr. Duane Muirhead, Director - Workforce Development Unit

Mr. Donald Wright Head-School of Engineering Logistics & Built Environment

Miss. Alia Wedderburn, Head - School of Aesthetics & Cosmetology

Ms. Yolanda Henry, Campus Director - Wesley Grove Campus

Mrs. Nadeen Euter-Tracey Coordinator - Assistant Nursing Training

Programme

Miss Deion Collins, Coordinator - Social Outreach Programme

Rev. Alvan Ross, Acting Director, Counselling Services

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Mr. Ainsworth Walker - Retention and Career Guidance (K13)

Mr. Michael Russell, Director - Sports Department

Mr. David Perry, Sports Development Officer

Miss Torrace Dunbar , Coordinator - Clubs & Societies

Ms.Jonelle Watts-Chung - College Nurse

Ms Itene Francis - College Nurse

Mr. Nigel Peart, Director - Career Services and Placement Unit

Mr. Duane Daley, Director - International Partnerships & Cultural

Exchange

Mr. Robin Clarke, Dean, Office of Marketing Media & Communications

Mr. Kirk Pinnock, Director, Infrastructural Development and ICT Services

Ms. Hirfa Morrison, College Librarian

Mr. Oneil Howell, Director of Safety and Security

Miss Janet Beckford - Bursar

Mrs. Shaleed James-Wright - Student Finance Officer

Miss Sabrina Williams - Student Finance Officer

Ms. Carol Finch, Financial Aid Support Officer

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Important Activities

Month Activity

August Orientation Exercise – School of Nursing

September Meeting with student support team members (parents, spouses)

Workshops for incoming Day, Evening and Week-end students .

School/Departmental Orientation for all

incoming students

Orientation for Week-end College students

Classes begin (Weekend College)

Classes begin (Day and Evening)

Clubs and Societies Expo (All Students)

Students’ Social

*October Annual Student Awards Ceremony

*November Annual Graduation

December Semester 1 Examinations

January Semester 2 Begins

May Semester 2 Examinations

June Summer Semester Begins

May/June CSEC/CAPE Examinations

*to be reviewed

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COVID-19 Guidelines

In keeping with the Disaster Risk Management Act and the COVID-19 Proto-cols issued by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, all individuals accessing the campuses and using the facilities must adhere to the following;

Mandatory temperature screening at the entrance gate. Entry is allowed for persons with a temperature reading within normal range;

Wearing of face mask at all times;

Sanitizing before entering the campus;

Maintaining at least 6ft physical distance from other persons at all times;

Limiting meeting, greeting and gathering in keeping with the recommended COVID-19 guidelines;

Washing and/or sanitizing of hands as often as possible. (hand washing stations and sanitization stations are installed in several areas on each cam-pus).

Adhering to the relevant

Ensuring your safety as it relates to the use of laboratory equipment, tools and other shared resources.

Please also note the following:.

If at any time you feel unwell or develop any COVID-19 symptoms, you will be required to stay at home and contact the Ministry of Health and Wellness for guidance. The School Nurse and your Head of School should also be immedi-ately informed so that the necessary arrangements can be made to facilitate the continuation of your studies should this become necessary. The Government of Jamaica has commenced the COVID-19 vaccination pro-gramme. You are encouraged to get vaccinated. Please note however that this is a voluntary decision.

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Code of Conduct for Online Classes

Students are expected to observe the following for online classes:

1. Authenticate yourself using your ECC email or online account in order to successful access your classes.

2. Select an appropriate background/space from which to operate – one that is uncluttered, free from noise and other distractions.

3. Wear clothing that is appropriate for the virtual classroom - polo shirts, blouses, t-shirts. Avoid hats, shirts with offensive logos and messages, sleep wear, spaghetti straps etc.

4. Profile pictures should not be offensive or in appropriate in any manner. A head shot photograph is preferable.

5. Keep your microphone muted at all times, until/unless you are required to do otherwise.

6. Avoid side conversations and multi-tasking. 7. Cameras may be kept on or off in keeping with your lecturer/facilitator’s

request. 8. Always exhibit behaviour which mirrors that of face to face classes. 9. Be regular in attendance in keeping with the course/programme require-

ment. 10. Be punctual for your classes . 11. Avoid any disturbance on entry to the online platform. 12. Be respectful of your classmates and lecturers. Use the meeting features

such as ‘raised hand and chat in order to maintain order and professional behaviour.

13. Protect your privacy by not giving out your password and other personal information

14. Should you need help, talk to your lecturer or use the online chat feature on the website to engage an officer.

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